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CITY HALL, LYNN, MASS. 



SKETCHES OF LYNN 






liE CHANGES OF FIFTY YEARS 



DAVID N. JOHNSON 

LYNN, MASS. 



vr6 2 



LYNN : 

THOS. P. NICHOLS, PRINTER. 
1880. 



\'.v 



Enteieil according to Act of Congress in tlie Office of the Librarian of Con- 
gress, June 7, iS?o, by DAVID N. JOHNSON. 



^ 



Ml- FELLOW-CITIZENS GENERALLV, 

AND MORE ESPECIALLY TO 

THE MEMBERS OF THE GENTLE CRAFT OF 
ST. CRISPIN, 

WHO, LIKE THE AITHOK, SPENT THEIR EAULV PAVS IN THE 
OLD-TIME shoemaker's SHOP, 

?hr,$'f inifica' arc vc^iifctfuHy Ilcrtiratftl. 



PRE FAC E. 



A preface is often written as an apology for a book. 
This preface is written for no snch pnrpose. This book 
was written because the writer had something to say, 
and wanted to say it ; and the preface was written be- 
cause he had something further to say to his readers. 

The writer of the following pages spent a large part 
of his early years in the old-fashioned shoemaker's shop. 
Beginning at the age of ten, he passed most of his waking 
hours for the next twenty years within the narrow limits 
of some half dozen of these humble structures, using up 
a large part of daylight in the w^arm season, and eking 
out the short days of w'inter by the. aid of two tallow^ 
candles, till nine or ten o'clock in the evening. He 
there got what there was to be learned of the ancient 
art, and picked up wdiatever information lay in his way. 
He heard all sorts of questions discussed, and became 
familiar with all the lore that could be gathered in these 
unpretending seminaries. When he was old enough, 
(and sometimes before.) he took part in these debates. 
Whatever training such a school could give to fit him for 
the task he has undertaken, the writer has had ; and as 
the later years of his life have been spent amid the 
changing scenes and conditions of our growing city, 
much that is here recorded came within the compass of 



VI PREFACE. 

his personal knowledge. He has taken no little pains to 
secure accuracy in the dates and statements here given, 
and has never heen satisfied with anything less than cer- 
tainty, when that could be reached. But as a perfect 
book has not yet been seen, it is not unlikely that in the 
many topics here treated, and the numerous figures em- 
ployed, some errors will be found. 

He believes that the first duty of a writer is to make 
himself understood. He has therefore used, for the most 
part, short words and short sentences. Having a high 
respect for the Saxon element of his native tongue, he 
has generallv chosen it, whenever the choice was of- 
fered him. He knows of no one using English as his 
mother tongue who does not understand it much better 
than anv foreign language ; and as this book is to be read 
by those who thus use English, the writer has made use 
of no words or phrases which the ordinary reader would 
be obliged to skip. This ought not to be a peculiarity. 
If it is, the writer consoles himself with the reflection 
that the nineteenth century will not be held responsible 
for the st3'le of his book. 

A book of sketches must necessarilv be incomplete. 
Why was this included, and why was that omitted, are 
questions which readers have a good right to ask, and 
they will, no doubt, exercise that right ; but, as it 
could not be settled by a commission, the writer decided 
it himself. As is usual in such cases, topics aside from 
those included in his original plan forced themselves 
upon his attention ; but after doing the best he could — 
enlarging his work much beyond his first design — he 
has left much unsaid that he intended to say, and can 
only add at this point that if life and health permit, he 



PREFACE. ^ Vll 

may ha\c sonicthiuf^ more to oiler concerninj;- the people 
among whom he has lived from early childhood. 

In the preparation of certain parts of this work, the 
writer was of necessity greatly indebted to the faithful 
labors of L}nn's historians. Alonzo Lewis and James R. 
Newdiall. To the Librarian of our Public Library, and 
the City Clerk, and their assistants, he would also express 
his indebtedness for many courteous attentions, in placing 
at his command whatever was valuable for his purpose in 
the books, documents and public records under tlieir 
charge. He wishes, likewise, to acknowledge his great 
obligations to the many friends — too many to call by 
name — whose kind help, so freely given, has made his 
labor lighter and more pleasant. 

Fully aware of the short-comings of this humble vol- 
ume, he offers it to his fellow-citizens as a slight contri- 
bution to those records which preserve the simple annals 
of the every-day life of the common people, and keep 
alive that which they most care to know and most dearly 
cherish. 

D. N. J. 



INTRODUCTION 



My purpose in the following pages is to present 
some reminiscences, and set forth certain facts that 
will show the changes of the last fifty years. 
These reminiscences are chiefly within my own 
recollection, but in part derived from those who 
have o-one farther than I down into the vale of 
years. It is, perhaps, proper for me to add, by 
way of preface, that it is doubtful if these papers 
would have appeared had I not been advised to 
prepare them for publication by others, who, like 
myself, had personal knowledge of many of the 
incidents here recorded, and to whom I am indebt- 
ed for many facts corroboratory of my own experi- 
ence. Many of these incidents may be trifling in 
themselves ; but they may nevertheless have a sig- 
nificance in the future as a picture of the lighter 
shades of life, not the less valuable because they 
are so often left undrawn ; but frequently having a 
greater interest to those who recognize the likeness 
than the well-spread canvas whereon the grave 
historian paints the deeds of kings and the exploits 
I 



2 - INTRODUCTION. 

of conquerors. And more than this, it is not un- 
Hkely that this portraiture of local incidents and 
events, however narrow its application, may shed 
light upon some obscure question, and aid the 
future annalist in unraveling a mystery. 

The Lynn of 1830 bore very little resemblance to 
the Lynn of 1879. At the first date it was a thriving 
town of about 6,000 inhabitants, including Swamp- 
scott and Nahant. The people, even then, were 
generally engaged in the manufacture of ladies' 
shoes, either as bosses, — as those who employed 
workmen were called, — makers, or binders. Con- 
siderable farming was carried on at this time, most- 
ly by those inheriting land, and several excellent 
farms then lay within the precincts of the town. 
There were, besides, a number of small farmers 
owning a few acres, who cultivated their land as a 
means in part of gaining a living, and gave the re- 
mainder of their time to the honored craft of shoe- 
making. The people of Swampscott then — as 
since — were almost exclusively engaged in fishing. 
This diversified industry gave Lynn some advan- 
tages over the surrounding towns, and the increase 
in her wealth and population was, consequently, 
more rapid. The great manufacturing cities of the 
Commonwealth had not yet arisen. Only six cities 
and towns of the State — Boston, Salem, New Bed- 
ford, Nantucket, Lowell and Worcester — exceed- 
ed Lynn in population, and these four last by only a 



INTRODUCTION. 3 

tew hundred eacli. The impulse given to cotton 
manufacture had but just begun to be felt in Low- 
ell, where, in 1824, a company was organized to 
carry on this business, which has since reached 
such magnitude. It did not become a great indus- 
try till several years later, when it built up Lowell, 
Lawrence, New Bedford and Fall River; and it 
was later still before the great iron interest, that for 
the last twenty years has advanced with such rapid 
strides, changed Worcester, Taunton and other 
smaller places from insignificant towns to large 
cities, producing millions of dollars' worth of everv 
kind of iron manufacture, from the steam engine to 
the simplest agricultural implement. 

Boston especially, and to some extent Salem, and 
even Marblehead, had acquired considerable com- 
mercial renown among the leading seaports of New 
England, while Lynn remained a quiet town with 
its industrv divided between farming; and shoe- 
making. But while the commerce of Salem and 
Marblehead was on the wane, the shoe business of 
Lynn was steadily gaining, attracting workmen 
from the surrounding towns ; besides this, it added 
to the industry and wealth of man}- neighboring 
places by furnishing employment to their people. 
Shoes were sent out of town to be made and bound 
from quite an early period. The Lynn shoemaker 
was in many respects a fortunately situated man. 
His labor was light, making an agreeable contrast 



4 INTRODUCTION. 

to the heavy work ot' the cobbler and of the maker 
of men's boots and shoes. He was sheltered from 
the inclemency of the weather, and his light and 
generally pleasant shop was an attractive place, not 
only to those who occupied a " berth " within its 
narrow limits, but also to the neighboring farmer 
or fisherman who dropped in on a stormy day or 
spent the long winter evening in talking about the 
weather, crops, the "catch" of fish in the bay, on 
the "Georgies" or on the "Grand Banks," or dis- 
cussed with the crew the state of business, politics, 
state, or national, or — more commonly — town 
affairs, or any other topic bearing a near or remote 
interest to the gossipers and their hearers. The 
peculiar nature of his business requiring of the 
workman little mental concentration, allowed him 
to take part in discussions, or fix his attention upon 
any question that might engage his thoughts. His 
work went on mechanically, as it seemed, without 
needing any of that nice care- which is indispen- 
sable in many of the mechanic arts. This circum- 
stance made every workshop a school and an 
incipient debating club ; and from this, doubtless, 
has arisen that general intelligence, which is said to 
characterize the sons of Crispin. It has been re- 
marked that more men have risen to eminence from 
the " seat " of the shoemaker than from the ranks 
of any other class of mechanics, except that of 
printers. It is to this cause chiefly, no doubt, that 



INTRODUCTION. 5 

debating societies and other literary institutions 
flourished to that degree that made them a marked 
feature in the social life of the workingmen of 
Lynn ; and it is the apology, if any is needed, for 
the somewhat extended notice of these organiza- 
tions that will claim the attention of the reader in 
the following pages. 

Books were comparatively scarce in those days, 
but a few^ were often found in the shops, the char- 
acter of which was determined by the taste of the 
owner. The Bible was more frequently seen than 
any other book, as many of the workmen were 
members of the various religious societies then 
existing in the town — Congregationalist, (Ortho- 
dox,) Methodist, Baptist, Friends, Unitarian, and 
a few years later, — the Universalist. As a conse- 
quence, religious discussions were often heard in 
those shoemakers' shops. Sometimes three or four 
workmen of different religious views would work 
in one shop. Then the debate would take a wide 
range, and all the essential points of doctrine laid 
down in the Catechism or creed would be canvassed 
with a good deal of earnestness, and often with 
much intelligence. When the discussion waxed 
warm, one of these defenders of some cherished 
doctrine might have been seen enforcing his argu- 
ment with his hammer poised in an imposing man- 
ner, or slowly descending upon the shoe he held on 
his knee. Or gesticulating with some other piece 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

of " kit " in his outstretched hand he cut the air at 
various irregular angles making a striking demon- 
stration — especially when one came too near — if 
not a gesture in strict accordance with the rules of 
oratory. On Monday morning the text would be 
reported by one of the crew and a synopsis given 
of the sermon preached the day before. . If it was 
a doctrinal discourse — and there were a good 
many of that kind in those days — an animated 
controversy was likely to follow. Perhaps some 
one of the five points of Calvinism was the grave 
theme of the preacher. Then a discussion would 
arise that would run on until the disputants wan- 
dered in " endless mazes lost ;" as they grappled 
with questions bridging the chasm between the 
known and the unknown — "fixed fate, free will, 
foreknowledge absolute." If there were singers 
among the crew, — which was often the case, — 
some of the grand old " Hymns of the Ages " would 
now and then be sung, to some familiar air, 

" Perhaps ' Dundee's ' wild warbling measures rise ; 
Or plaintive ' Martyrs,' worthy of the name : 
Or noble ' Elgin ' beats the heaven-ward flame. 
The sweetest far of Scotia's holy lays." 

Next to the Bible, the book most commonly seen 
was some small copy of the dictionary. Some of 
the vounger workmen in the shops would have 
within reach a spelling-book or grammar, or some 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

Other text book used in the public schools, and now 
and then they would look over its pages, while 
they took a brief rest from their work. 

The daily newspaper was then a few years in the 
future ; but the weekly paper, religious or secular, 
was often found in these shops ; and the best reader 
among the crew, or perhaps a neighbor wlio had 
dropped in, would read the news, which in those 
davs before railroads, steamboats, and electric tele- 
graphs, took a good while to travel from the four 
quarters of the earth. Comments would be made 
as the reading w^ent on, and when it was ended a 
general discussion took place upon the various 
topics treated — missionary intelligence from the 
then recently established missions ; nullification 
which was then muttering its threats against the 
Union ; the anti-slavery movement just then launch- 
ed upon the stormy waves of an excited public 
opinion by its intrepid leader, Garrison, — these, 
with other less exciting topics, often made the shop 
of the shoemaker an arena of debate which stimu- 
lated the intelligence and broadened the view^s of 
all w'ho came within the reach of its influence. 

At this time nearly all the workmen owned the 
houses they lived in, with considerable land adjoin- 
ing. The few who hired tenements had generally 
an ample garden where they raised various vege- 
tables and fruits. Potatoes w^ere the chief crop, 
and it was not unusual for the little plat of ground 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

to yield a sufficient quantity to supply the family 
through the winter. The cultivation of fruit trees 
[_ had then hardly begun. There were many old 
apple orchards, but many of the trees bore natural 
fruit, the art of grafting being then but little prac- 
ticed. Pears and other fruits were but little culti- 
vated. Almost every family kept a pig which 
furnished a stock of meat for a large part of the 
year. One of the newspapers of the day, alluding 
to this fact, observed that there were probably more 
hogs raised in Lynn than any other town of its size 
in the vicinity. Cows were also very generally 
kept, and droves of them were seen morning and 
night on their way to, or returning from, the neigh- 
boring pastures. Bread and milk made one of the 
common dishes of the time, especially for children. 
The beaches near by yielded an unfailing supply 
of clams, in the season, and the " clam banks " 
were spoken of, in those days, when the currency 
was more miscellaneous than the wants of the peo- 
ple required, as banks that never failed or refused 
to discount. 

The contrast between those days and the present 
cannot be realized except by those who have lived 
' through the transformation. No fifty years, since 
man inhabited the earth, have witnessed such 
changes. They have left nothing as it was, — the 
food, clothes, shelter, the tools with which the poor 
man labored, and the conditions under which he 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

performed that labor, have all been changed. The 
multiplied arts of an age more wonderful in its 
mechanical inventions than any that preceded it, 
have lightened his labor and increased its recom- 
pense. Thev have placed at his command com- 
forts unknown to the world in former times, and 
made common luxuries hitherto enjoyed only by 
the favored few. Fifty years ago and there was 
not a piano within the limits of the town, and a 
musical instrument of any description was a com- 
paratively rare sight. The artistically finished 
parlor organ, elegant as a piece of household furni- 
ture, and the great variety of melodeons now every- 
where seen, were then unknown ; and twenty years 
later the notes of a piano falling on the ear would 
attract the attention of the passer by. 

One living through this period has seen the old 
tinder box, flint and steel give way to the friction 
match. He has seen the tallow candle and the 
smoky japanned lamp, that gave just light enough 
to "make darkness visible," superseded by the 
Argand burner and the more brilliant flame of the 
gas light, and now the application of the " electric 
light," for the common purposes of illumination, 
heating and other uses, public and domestic, seems 
about to be realized — a discovery more wonderful, 
if possible, than any that preceded it, and which 
promises to bring about greater revolutions than even 
steam itself. He has seen the coarse, clumsy cow- 

2 



lO INTRODUCTION. 

hide brogan, from which the school-boy used to 
drain the snow-water at night, give place to the 
elegant shoe, and the impervious rubber boot. He 
has seen coarse, patched and ragged clothing, too 
scanty, often, to afford protection from the cold of 
winter, gradually disappear and its place supplied 
with comfortable, neat-fitting garments, scarcely 
distinguishable from those worn by the wealthiest 
class. He has seen the two-room tenement, scantily 
furnished, expand into the neat and often elegant 
cottage, supplied with every comfort, adorned wath 
pictures and beautified with various ornaments, the 
evidences of a cultivated taste — pianos, books, 
albums, vases, and an endless variety of useful and 
attractive household treasures. He has seen the 
small, poorly-printed weekly newspaper, worked 
off on a hand press, with its meager record of events 
that took place a week, a month or a year before, 
supplanted by the mammoth daily quarto, struck off 
on a "lightning press,'' printed on both sides at once 
at the rate of twelve to fifteen thousand impressions 
an hour. He has seen the crowded, ungraded dis- 
trict school, with a hundred pupils in charge of a sin- 
gle teacher, transformed into graded classes of one- 
half the number of former times ; and in place of the 
contracted, ill-ventilated, unpainted school-house 
in which it was kept, he sees the well-furnished 
apartments of magnificent structures that attract the 
attention of the passer-by. He has seen the few 



INTRODUCTION. II 

hundred volumes of the little town library expand 
into the Free Public Library, furnished with its 
thousands of volumes containing the literary treas- 
ures of all ages, and constantly augmented with the 
world's latest productions of mental genius. He 
has seen this " college of the people " supplement- 
ing the instructions of the public schools, visited by 
thousands from all ranks of society, and exerting 
an influence upon the general intelligence and 
culture of the community that it is impossible to 
esdmate. He has seen the illimitable power of 
steam, in its ten thousand applications to the wants 
of business and the comfort of mankind, spread all 
over the civilized world, revolutionizing commerce 
and every branch of manufactures, and making 
obsolete old methods of travel, and the slow, clumsy 
means of transportation. To add to the marvels of 
this age of invention, the telephone, in its various ap- 
plications, is seen in our places of business, and oral 
communication is held between parties far distant 
from each other. This communication is so perfect 
that the peculiarities of voice can be distinguished. 
And every day brings rumors of new wonders, and 
the end is not yet. Judging from the last half cen- 
tury, what the next fifty years will bring forth, the 
marvels still in store will outstrip the imagination 
of the poet. 



GENERAL REVIEW. 



The making of shoes in Lynn dates back to an 
early period. History informs us that the first 
shoemakers of Lynn were Philip Kertland and Ed- 
mund Bridges, who came here in 1635, six years 
after the settlement of the town. A corporation of 
shoemakers was formed soon after. Mention is 
made of this in the "Wonder Working Providence," 
a book published in 165 1, by Edward Johnson, of 
Woburn. In his allusion to Lynn manufactures he 
says : — " All other trades have fallen into their 
ranks and places, to their great advantage, espe- 
cially coopers and shoemakers, who had either of 
them a Corporation granted, inriching themselves 
very much." 

Unfortunately, the records of this Corporation 
are lost, and so we fail to get any hint of the plan 
of its organization ; but it was doubtless based upon 
the model of the ancient guilds, and corporations of 
the Old World. It is supposed that these records 
were destroyed by the mob in 1765, occasioned by 
the passage of the Stamp Act. 



GENERAL REVIEW. I3 

Not much is known of the growth and condition 
of the business of Lynn for the next one hundred 
years ; but it doubtless slowly increased with the 
gradual growth of the country, and there is little 
question that at that early day Lynn held the first 
rank in the manufacture of ladies' shoes. But a 
fresh impulse was given to this industry by the 
arrival, in 1750, of John Adam Dagyr, a shoe- 
maker from Wales. He was a skilled workman 
in ladies' shoes, and under his instructions the shoe- 
makers of Lynn soon changed their clumsy meth- 
ods for the more skillful means and appliances 
which this ancient art could furnish. Dagyr's rank 
as a shoemaker may be inferred from an allusion 
in the Boston Gazette of 1764, quoted by Lewis in 
his History of Lynn, where he was referred to as 
"the celebrated shoemaker of Essex." 

For the next fifty or sixty years there are but 
few facts bearing upon the condition and progress 
which this great branch of our industry made in 
our midst. But there is no question that Lynn was 
becoming' more and more the head center in the 
manufacture of ladies' shoes. During the ten 
years ending 18 10 the population increased nearly 
fifty per cent. — an increase owing, doubtless, in a 
great degree to the opportunities here offered to 
the inhabitants of other towns of engaging in a 
more profitable business than could be found else- 
where. 



14 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



THE SHOEMAKER S SHOP 



It was about this time that the little shoemaker's 
shop, which in tormer years so attracted the 
attention of strangers, begun to make its appear- 
ance. Before this period the shoemaking of our 
ancestors was carried on before the kitchen fire ; 
or, to speak more exactly, in the chimney corner. 
The double occupation of farming and shoemaking 
eng-aged the industry of the early settlers in this 
vicinity, and, as their agricultural labors employed 
most of their time in the warm-season, their work 
at the " craft " was performed in cold weather, or 
on exceptional!}' stormy days. As a matter of 
necessary comfort, the " seat " was placed before 
or near the open fire-place, and "knee-boards" 
were worn to protect the knees from excessive heat. 
For the first fifty years, or until the beginning of 
the present century, these shops were built with an 
open fire-place in the corner. From this time stoves 
came gradually into use. The size of these shops 
varied from the " ten-footer " — as one measuring 
ten feet in length by ten in breadth was called — to 
those measuring fourteen feet each way. The 
average was nearer twelve by twelve. 

The manner of conducting the shoe business fifty 
years ago was very unlike the methods of to-day. 
Those were the days of "bag-bosses." A dozen, 
or two dozen pairs of shoes, more or less, were 



GENERAL Rp:VIEW. 1 5 

packed in a bay. and taken to Boston to be traded 
off for whatever could be got in exchange. Boston 
was the principal market, though many were sold 
in the neighboring towns. As there were no steam 
cars running then, the methods of getting these 
shoes to market were as various as the circum- 
stances of the manufacturers. Some took the pack 
on their back and trudged off, the journey to Boston 
and back being a good day's work. Others took 
their bundle to the city on horseback. Others went 
in the stage coach : and sdll others, who could 
afford to keep a team, drove over the road. 

Shoes were not generally packed in boxes until 
some dme after this. Those that were desdned for 
the South were often packed in barrels and sent to 
Boston, where they were repacked in large boxes, 
and forwarded to their destination, generally by 
water, as this means of transportation was cheaper 
than by land. Shoe boxes did not come into gen- 
eral use until between 1830 and 1840. The busi- 
ness of making shoe boxes on an extensive scale 
was tirst established by James N. Buffum, about 
the year 1836 ; but it was done in a small way 
some time before this date. Mr. Benjamin Mudge 
and Elijah Downing made shoe boxes as early as 
1825. 

Up to this time paper shoe boxes were unknown. 
About the year 1840 Mr. Abner Jones began the 
manufacture of paper shoe boxes. Very few were 



l6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

made until 185 1, when Mr. George H. Cushman 
set up the business. This trade increased rapidly, 
as the practice of double packing fine shoes — first 
in paper boxes, which were then packed in wooden 
cases — became general. 

THE GREAT REVOLUTION. 

It is only within the last thirty years that the 
great revolutions in the shoe business of Lynn be- 
gan. The stitching machine was the first great 
invention. This ingenious piece of mechanism was 
the work of Elias Howe. Mr. Howe obtained his 
patent in 1846. The first machine used in Lynn 
was the "Singer" patent, introduced in 1852, by 
Mr. John Wooldredge. An expert came from 
Philadelphia to instruct the first operator. Miss 
Hannah Harris, daughter of Mr. Lord Harris. 
The revolution wrougrht by the stitching machine 
was speedy and complete. 

Soon after this the factory system was gradually 
introduced. One by one the little shoemakers' 
shops were abandoned, as the factories of the man- 
ufacturers were enlarged and fitted up so that the 
work, both of the stitchers and makers, might be 
done under the more immediate supervision of the 
employers. 

(The accompanying illustrations give some idea 
of the contrast between the little shop of the olden 
time and the factory of to-day.) 



GENERAL REVIEW. I7 

In the meantime several minor inventions, all 
tending to perfect the work of the operative, were 
introduced. One of these was the use of tin pat- 
terns for shaping the soles, in place of the old 
method of " rounding on " by the last. This simple 
device gave uniformity to the shape of the shoes — 
a thing impossible, as experience had shown, under 
the ancient plan, which left every man to the free 
exercise of his choice in determining the width and 
shape of the shoes, and especially of the shanks. 
It is strange that this simple expedient — for in- 
vention it can hardly be called — the advantages 
of which were so apparent, was not sooner tried. 
Before this there was no uniformity in the shoes 
made by different workmen. It was of course nec- 
essary to have some general conformity to the shape 
of the last; that is, the heels were rounded (when 
the sole was not too short), and narrow-toed shoes 
could hardly be made on wide-toed lasts ; but when 
it came to the " shank," there was a chance for the 
display of original genius. A single box of shoes 
— the product of three or four workmen — would 
display as many different styles of " shanks." Some 
workmen ran to very narrow shanks, some to verv 
wide shanks, while some seemed to find the true 
lines and curves of beauty that fulfilled their ideal of 
symmetry by observing the golden mean between 
these two extremes. It required some mechanical 
genius to make a shoe in those days : and when 
3 



l8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

this genius was not of a tolerably high order, the 
question of " matching shanks," when the day's 
work was "tied up," imposed a degree of responsi- 
bility not experienced at the present time ; as it was 
found that the range taken in a single day between 
the two extremes of wide and narrow shanks was 
considerable, and sometimes exhibited violent con- 
trasts. 

It will be seen that the chief characteristic of the 
revolution that has taken place is, that everything 
is reduced to system. The exactness of scientific 
measurement is substituted for random guesses. 
Everything is assorted with especial reference to its 
fitness for the purpose intended. In nothing is this 
more clearly seen than in the cutting and sorting of 
soles. Sole leather, as formerly cut by hand, was 
subject to the most extravagant waste. It was 
an easy thing for a cutter of sole leather to waste 
more than the amount of his wages ; and in the 
classification of the different grades — or rather, 
lack of classification — there was, if possible, a 
more wasteful expenditure of material. The divi- 
sion of labor had not then been carried far enough 
to enable the manufacturer to purchase just what he 
wanted, and nothing else. Now, a dozen different 
grades, ranging Irom the lightest and lowest priced 
soles up to the heaviest and most costly, can be 
bought in any quantity, and at the shortest notice. 
As an illustration of the waste incident to the old 



GENERAL REVIEW. 



19 



methods, it is only neccesary to recall the experi- 
ence of any of our old " jours." In the season when 
"welts'" (as welted shoes were called) were made, 
inner soles and light soles were in more than usual 
demand. As a consequence, the manufacturers 
frequently ran " short," and were obliged to use 
soles of a much heavier grade than this kind of shoe 
required. Soles thick enough for " imitation " were 
often used as a matter of necessity- 

The first invention in this line was the simple 
" stripper." This was a heav}- blade worked bv 
foot power. It cut the leather into strips — across 
the width of the side — of various widths, corres- 
ponding to the length of the sole required. This 
gave exactness of length. 

Next came the " sole cutter," the invention of 
Richard Richards, a last-maker and ingenious 
mechanic of Lynn. This machine was patented 
in 1844. It gave regularit}- of shape and uniformit^• 
in width. 

The second great invention, in its labor-saving 
capabilities, w^as the McKay machine for stitching 
the bottoms. (This machine was introduced into 
Lynn by William Porter, in 1862.) This revolu- 
tionized the work of the maker, as the stitching 
machine has already superseded the needle of the 
binder. This took the place, in a large degree, of 
the ancient method of the old-time shoemaker, as, 
with the shoe held on his knee b\- the stirrup, and 



20 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

his awl in his hand, his picture has come down to 
us from a remote antiquity. 

Soon after this, in 1867, the "beating-out ma- 
chine " was introduced by the inventor, Joseph 
Bassett Johnson. This invention supphed the place 
of ""hammering," or the "beating out" process, 
heretofore performed by the hammer of the shoe- 
maker, as he held the shoe on his knee. Mean- 
while the factory system developed various minor 
inventions which, one by one, took the place of old 
methods, so that at the present time the ancient 
" craft" of the shoemaker is practiced and preserved 
only in the few " little shops " that still linger among 
us, to remind us of a former age. 

Meantime attention was turned to the improve- 
ment of " upper " patterns. In former years these 
patterns were made of straw-board, or some less en- 
during material. Each manufacturer cut his own 
patterns. As might be supposed, they were not 
often models of elegance in design, nor were the}' 
characterized by mathematical exactness. The first 
stride taken in this direction was the invention, in 
1848, of a "pattern machine," by Geo. W. Parrott, 
of Lynn. This secured the two chief points — ex- 
actness in the proportion between the several sizes, 
and also the gradual increase in the fullness over 
the instep and around the ankle, required in the 
smaller sizes, especially of children's shoes. This 
second principle had been before applied in turning 




SERGE OR KID FOX BUTTON. 




SERGE OR KID POLISH. 



(Dravjn by I. G. Siitlur-land.) 




GENT S FOX CONGRESS. 




LADYS OR GENTS SCOTCH TIE. 



(Drazun by I. G. Sutlterland.) 



GENERAL REVIEW. 21 

lasts, to secure the same end, but it was first applied 
to the machine for cutting patterns by Mr. Parrott. 

But no single machine, however ingenious, was 
sufficient to meet the various requirements of the 
case. The unequal and irregular proportions found 
in human feet are so marked that no automatic con- 
trivance, even when its movements are subject to 
the various modifying adjustments which ingenuity 
has yet been able to invent, can meet all the excep- 
tional conditions so often manifested in this part of 
man's anatomy. Each case, or each class of cases, 
must be treated by itself, and various minor inven- 
tions and more elaborately constructed tools, aided 
to bring about the desired end. 

Several years later, in 187 1, Israel G. Sutherland 
began the business of pattern cutting. Mr. Suth- 
erland was an excellent mechanic, and saw- what 
was required to perfect the improvements already 
made. He carefully studied the subject, and availed 
himself of all the mechanical contrivances that 
would aid him in his work, which was to produce 
a pattern that should serve as a model for a neatly 
fitting boot or shoe. Other skillful and tasteful 
manufacturers directed their attention to the same 
end, all tending to perfect this the most difficult 
part of the manufacturer's art, until those models of 
elegance in the styles of boots and shoes which 
characterize the products of our manufacturers 
were, step by step, reached. 



22 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

It is no idle boast to say, that, in the manufacture 
of ladies' shoes, Lynn holds the first rank in this 
country, if not in the world. There is nothing sur- 
prising in this. As we have seen, the business was 
established and domesticated here from the first 
settlement of New England. Capital was attracted 
to it, and the inventive genius of our people, and the 
skill of our mechanics, developed its resources and 
improved the quality of its products. The enter- 
prise and intelligence of our merchants availed 
themselves of every invention and appliance de- 
signed to improve the product or to cheapen its 
cost; and to-day, as the result of long years of 
patient toil, of ingenious contrivance, and of busi- 
ness enterprise, the manufacturers of Lynn are able 
to offer to the world of buyers the advantages of the 
highest excellence that has been reached in this de- 
partment of human industry. 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



THE SHOEMAKER S SHOP. 

The shoemaker's shop, to which allusion has 
been made, and of which we have a few specimens 
still extant among us, cannot boast of a great an- 
tiquity. It came into use about the middle of 
the last centur\- or a little earlier. The size of 
these shops varied from the " ten-footer " — as one 
measuring ten feet in length by ten feet in width 
was called — to those measuring fourteen feet each 
way. These last were regarded as of almost pala- 
tial dimensions. The average was nearer twelve 
by twelve. They were generall}' finished six and 
a half feet clear in height, a few being below that 
tigure and a few above it, so that a tall man with a 
tall hat on ran no small risk of damaging his head 
gear on entering the door, as the stove-pipe hat 
was then generally worn. The garret was left un- 
finished, and was the common receptacle of all 
kinds of litter and of everything not wanted for use, 
or wanted onlv occasionallv. This was reached 



24 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

by a perpendicular ladder, which was more easy of 
descent than of ascent. The contents of some of 
these garrets were a mitigated museum. Old lasts 
— some of them of styles dating back a quarter 
or a half century — candle rigging, old umbrellas, 
broken chairs, old boots, occasionally_an old clock, 
old hats, the bottoms of two or three old boots — 
the tops cut off ver}' near the sole and used as a 
receptacle for wax — besides a miscellaneous as- 
sortment of all sorts of trumpery, the accumulation 
oftentimes of two or three generations, made up in 
part the stock of odds and ends found in these 
'' cock-lofts," whose owners believed that everything 
comes in use once in every seven years. 

The number w'orking in one of these shops 
ranged from four to eight, according to the size of 
the edifice and other circumstances, and taken col- 
lectively was called the shop's crew. The space 
occupied by each "jour" was called his "berth." 
This was the space covered b} his " seat " or 
" bench " — " seat " was the more common name in 
Lynn — and a foot or two, more or less, in front 
and at the left. There must, of course, be room to 
swing the arms in sewing. When each workman 
had space to " swing out," the most essential con- 
dition was complied with. Sometimes grave dis- 
putes would arise respecting the limits of some of 
these berths, which were doubtless settled often- 
times by diplomacy, as subtile and as significant 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 25 

within its narrow range as that characterizing the 
settlement of the boundaries of empires. 

For the first half century, or thereabouts, shops 
were built with fireplaces to secure the needed 
warmth in cold weather, as heating by stoves was 
an invention of a later period. When the weather 
was excessively cold it became a question whether 
it would pay to heat up the shop : or, in other 
words, whether they could earn the cost of fuel. 
If not, the crew went gunning. The test was said 
to be made by sprinkling water on a lapstone, and 
applying it to some tender part of the body. If the 
experiment was not too disastrous, a fire was built 
and work was attempted. 

It is impossible to tell when the first stove w^as 
used in heating one of these shops, but it is prob- 
able that they w^ere introduced gradually for a short 
period before the close of the last century. As new 
shops were built, the little fireplace in the corner 
was dispensed with and the newly-invented stove 
took its place. 

What kind of a stove was first used is a matter of 
some doubt. Something like a huge brick box 
projecting from the chimney near the floor was 
among the early contrivances to secure a greater 
degree of heat than could be obtained from the 
open fireplaces, and was called a "Dutch stove." 
This, however, is not the invention that usually 
goes by that name. 
4 



26 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

There seems to be some evidence that the first 
stove used was like that which came into more gen- 
eral use some time later. The sides, ends, top and 
bottom of this stove were cast separately and held 
together with rods. 

One of the first stoves used was cylindrical, or 
drum-shaped, and hence called a "drum-stove." 
The box-stove was soon after introduced. This 
stove was cast entire, except the bottom, which 
probably explains the circumstance that one was 
rarely or never seen that was not cracked. This 
crack was generally stopped up with mortar. 

Wood was used for fuel, eked out by leather 
scraps. Upon the introduction of coal in 1833 the 
small cylindrical-shaped coal stove, or salamander 
as it was called, gradually took the place, to a con- 
siderable extent, of the box-stove, both on account 
of the smaller cost of coal as fuel, and of the greater 
steadiness of the fire, which not only required much 
less care but which gave a less spasmodic heat. 
The arrangements for ventilation w^ere neither 
scientific nor complicated. On the contrary, they 
were of the most primitive character. When a full 
crew were at work, and the windows and door had 
been closed for" some time, the miscellaneous odors 
arising from tobacco smoke, burning leather, shoe- 
maker's wax, and deoxygenated air, made a com- 
pound which no chemist ever undertook to imitate, 
and which did not remind one of the Spice Islands. 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 27 

When this odor was unendurable a window or door 
would be opened, to the great risk of any rheumatic 
victim who mii^ht be seated near. In cold weather 
it was customary for the crew to take turns in build- 
ing the fire. This was sometimes a weekly and 
sometimes a daily arrangement. The exception to 
this was when a boy was one of the crew. In such 
cases the boy was expected to build the fire. This, 
however, was often a mere theory. A knowing 
boy alwavs fell back on his inalienable rights. 
When the theory was first announced to such a boy 
he would proceed to examine the grounds on which 
the claim rested ; and a discussion of first principles 
followed, unless the debate was cut short, by re- 
minding him that he was a boy, and it was expected 
that he would perform the duty. "Not at present," 
would be the calm reply, and he would usually 
carry his point by the mere momentum of genius. 

These were the days before friction matches 
were introduced or coal used in this part of the 
countrv. As it was not practicable to keep a fire 
over night in the stoves used, as is now done in coal 
stoves for weeks together — and as was then com- 
monly done in the old-fashioned fireplaces where 
"fire was raked up o' nights" — a fire had to be built 
each morning : and flint, steel and tinder-box were 
resorted to, or it was necessary to bring a "brand's 
end" or a shovel of live coals from a neighboring 
house. A man didn't knock the skin ofi" of his 



28 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

knuckles every time he tried to strike tire — a boy 
was more likely to — and the tinder was likely to 
catch when it was not too damp. One can im- 
agine the situation of a man sitting over a tinder- 
box when the thermometer — if there had been one 
within three or four miles — would have indicated 
five or ten below zero, and trying to strike off a few 
sparks and make them go in the right direction. 
The interest of the picture is heightened if we 
imagine that he had poor mittens on his hands as 
he walked a mile or more — as was sometimes the 
case — from his house to the shop ; and the interest 
is heightened still more if we suppose he didn't 
have any mittens at all. In this case his fingers 
were a thermometer showing a lower figure than 
the mercury ever reached. After a while, even 
under the most discouraging circumstances, the fire 
was built and the shop heated— or "het up" as it 
was usually expressed — sufficiently to "work the 
wax." This was the grand test. If the wax did 
not "fly" from the thread on a cold day in the oper- 
ation of sewing, the temperature was thought to be 
about right, supposing, of course, that the wax was 
tempered properly. In the meantime there were 
ranged around the stove paste-horns of frozen paste, 
blacking-bottles, gum-bottles, and all other bottles 
containing any liquid that froze during the night. 
In severe weather it generally took pretty much the 
whole forenoon to "thaw out the corners." It was 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 29 

amusing to see a boy make a thread before the shop 
was tully warmed. He would hold the wax to the 
tire ; then he would breathe on it ; then he would 
attempt to draw his thread through it ; then the 
wax would break into a dozen pieces and part of it 
would fly in his face, part stick to his apron, and 
the rest get all over his hand and between his 
fingers. He would then present a picture of help- 
lessness and despondency such as would rarely 
darken his pathway in after life. Then he would 
tr}- to get the wax off of his hands. Then one of 
the crew w^ould make an encouraging remark and 
tell him that if he couldn't get rid of the wax any 
other way he might cut his hand off. 

The shop was often infested with mice ; and 
original measures were sometimes resorted to by 
the crew to protect the various articles subject to 
the depredations of the vermin. The paste-horn 
w^ould be rolled up in a leather apron and stowed 
away in a draw'er of the ^'seat." Some would sus- 
pend the horn by a string from the ceiling. Then 
the lap-stone would be put over the grease-box, 
and everything eatable would be guarded against 
the ravages of this puny though by no means in- 
significant nuisance. The simple mouse-trap was 
not then invented ; and various contrivances called 
traps were constructed — mostly by boys — designed 
to bring some unwary mouse to an untimely end. 
As it w^as generally harder to get into one of these 



30 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

traps than it was to keep outside, the mice held 
their midnight revels while the young inventor lay 
dreaminpf that he had carved for himself a name — 
with a shoe knife — before whose brightness the 
fame of Arkwright was to fade in dim eclipse. 

A bov while learning his trade was called a 
"seamster:" that is, he sewed the shoes for his 
master, or employer, or to use one of the technical- 
ities of the "craft," he "worked on the seam." 
Sometimes the genius of one of these bovs would 
outrun all limits. One of this kind, who may be 
called Alphonzo, worked on the seam for a stipu- 
lated sum. He seemed to regard his work as an 
incidental circumstance. When he left the shop at 
night he might be expected back the next morn- 
ing : but there were no special grounds for the ex- 
pectation. He might drop in the next morning, or 
the next week. He left one Saturday night and 
did not make his appearance again until the follow- 
ing Thursday morning. On entering the shop he 
proceeded to take off his jacket as though there had 
been no hiatus in his labor. His master watched 
him with an amused countenance to see whether 
he would recognize the lapse of time. At length 
he said, "Where have you been, Alphonzo ?" Al- 
phonzo turned his head in an instant, as if struck 
with the preposterousness of the inquiry, and ex- 
claimed, " Me ? I ? O, I 've been down to Na- 
hant." The case was closed. 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 3 1 

THE shoemaker's KIT. 

It may be interesting at some future time to know 
what constituted the "kit" of the shoemaker of the 
olden time. The following tools and appliances 
were regarded as essential : — A lap-stone, hammer, 
stirrup, whet-board, pincers, nippers, — sometimes — 
shoulder-stick, (one or more), longstick, pettibois, 
toe-stick, fender, bead, scraper, knives of different 
descriptions, such as skiver, paring-off' knife, heel- 
knife, etc., awl, bristles, tacks, wax, a piece of 
sponge, paste-horn, bottles for blacking, gum — and 
acid in later times — chalk, dogfish skin (till within 
the last fifty years when sandpaper took its place), 
stitch-rag, grease, channel-opener — usually called 
an open-channel — and apron. As might be sup- 
posed some workmen required a more elaborate 
outfit in the way of tools than others. Some w^ould 
be satisfied with two knives, while others thought 
it needful to have half a dozen. The ambition of 
some would be satisfied with one shoulder-stick, 
while others had quite an assortment. The lap- 
stone, which is so often considered the emblem of 
the shoemaker's craft, was frequently a possession 
having a local interest and value that gave to its 
possessor the reputation of unknown wealth. It 
may have been brought by a near relative from the 
coast of Java, or from some of the beaches washed 
by the Pacific Ocean. It was so perfect in shape, 



32 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

SO smooth upon its face, and so completely adapted 
to its purpose, that it was the env}' of the whole 
neighborhood. Nobody had any clear idea of the 
wealth of the man that owned such a lap-stone. It 
was never computed, but remained in a shroud of 
mist until the owner passed beyond the reach of 
prices current, and the executor, in administering 
upon the estate, brought the incomputed treasure 
within the range of measurable values. 

Other pieces of kit would sometimes be invested 
with an historic value unknown if indeed comput- 
able. One w^ould possess a " shoulder-stick " made 
from a club with which a sailor uncle had knocked 
down a Sandwdch Islander when Commodore 
Porter visited the Pacific Islands in the war of 
1812 : or, possibly, some other owned one that was 
made from a tomahawk brandished by some red 
Indian in the colonial wars. These men died in 
the possession of unestimated wealth. 

In almost every one of these shops there was one 
whose mechanical genius outrun that of all the rest. 
He could "temper w^ax," "cut shoulders," sharpen 
scrapers and cut hair. The making of wax was an 
important circumstance in the olden time. To 
temper it just right so that it \Vould not be too 
brittle and "fly" from the thread, or too soft and 
stick to the fingers, was an art within the reach of 
but few, or if within reach, was attained only h\ 
those who aspired to scale the heights of fame, and 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 33 

who, *' while their companions slept, were toiling 
upward in the night." Such a one eyed his skillet 
of melted rosin as the alchemist of old viewed his 
crucible wherein he was to transmute the baser 
metals into gold. When the rosin was thoroughly 
melted, oil or grease was added until the right con- 
sistency was supposed to be nearly reached, the 
compound being thoroughly stirred in the mean- 
time. Then the one having the matter in charge 
would first dip his finger in cold water and then 
into the melted mass, and taking the portion that 
adhered to his finger, would test its temper by pull- 
ing it, biting it, and rolling it in his hands. If 
found to be too hard, more oil or grease would be 
added, but very cautiously, as the critical moment 
was being reached. Then the test would be again 
applied. When the right result was supposed to 
be nearly gained, a piece of wax would be passed 
around among the crew for a confirmatorv verdict. 
If the judgment of the master of ceremonies was 
indorsed, the experiment ended, and the mixture 
was poured into a vessel of cold water — usually the 
"shop-tub" — to cool sufficiently to be "worked." 
This was done by " pulling," w'hich bleached it as 
candy is whitened by the same process. The opin- 
ion was held by some that the " working " of the 
wax injured its quality. The wax w^as usually 
kept in the bottom of an old boot or shoe, the top 
of which had been cut oft' near the sole. In some 
5 



34 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

cases it was allowed to remain at the bottom of the 
shop-tub. The shop-tub was an indispensable ar- 
ticle in every shop. In early times, before the 
manufactures of wooden ware had become plenty 
and cheap, some rudeh'^-constructed wooden vessel 
of home manufacture served the purpose. After- 
wards a paint-keg or a lirkin with the top sawed 
off, and still later a second-hand water-pail, was 
made to do service. 

The theory was that the water of the shop-tub 
was to be changed every day. As this water was 
used for -wetting the " stock " — which meant all the 
sole leather put into the shoe — and also often used 
for washing hands, it v^'as somewhat necessary that 
it should be changed occasionally. The shifting 
of the " tub " often devolved upon the boy of the 
shop, except w^hen he was too bright. In that case 
he " shirked " with the rest of the crew. This was 
the sort of boy that looked out of the attic window 
of the dormitory where he slept, to see if the smoke 
was gracefully curling from the shop's chimney, in 
the gray of the morning as he stretched himself for 
a supplementary snooze. 

The man who had an "eye" for cutting " shoulders " 
occupied a niche of distinction among his fellow- 
craftsmen. If it was not necessary that he should 
have a " microscopic eye " — which Mr. Pope tells us 
man does not need because he " is not a fly," — it was 
needful that he should have a " treometric eve" when 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 35 

called upon to adjust the " shoulder " to " con- 
vex "' and " concave " edges. To do this success- 
fully required little less than a stroke of genius. 
Two cents was the usual price for cutting a 
" shoulder," and an experienced cutter would 
gather in each week quite a pile of the large-size 
coppers of those days, whose purchasing power of 
many things was twice as great as at present. 

Next to the man who could " make wax " and 
"cut shoulders," was he who could sharpen 
"scrapers." It was a very difficult thing to get a 
good blade for a scraper. It required a peculiar 
ioughncss and "temper," otherwise it would "break" 
in " turning, " and show an edge full of tine " gaps," 
instead of that smoothness which was indispensable 
in scraping the bottoms of fine shoes. When a 
man was fortunate enough to own one of these well- 
tempered blades it was not considered a market- 
able commodity. The rash and envious might 
skirmish around the outposts of commercial values, 
and end their fruitless attempt by naming some sum 
before unheard-of in the purchase of any such ar- 
ticle ; but they were pooh-poohed aside with lofty dis- 
dain that shut the gates of traffic and locked them 
on both sides. Sometimes a venturesome youth 
would suggest to such a man, the owner of such a 
scraper, that he lend it to him, the aforesaid youth, 
"just to try." The inexpressible glance of the 
owner was such as the conqueror of the world 



36 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

might be supposed to have given had a small- 
headed Greek corporal proposed to borrow the 
helmet of Alexander. A boy never tried such an 
experiment but once. 

There were several things connected with the shoe- 
maker's art, besides those already mentioned, re- 
quiring the skill of the expert and the trained hand 
of the practiced workman. The making of " fen- 
ders " was an important job. These were at first 
made of discarded horn combs — then much more 
worn than at present — and went by the name of 
" stitch-bones." They were made by soaking the 
combs in hot water until they could be bent into any 
shape required and easily cut. They w^ere then 
cut into strips about an inch wide, and four or five 
inches long, and scraped thin at one end so that it 
could be inserted between the upper and the sole 
as a protection against the point of the knife in 
paring off the edge. Sometimes a hole was dis- 
covered in one of these " fenders,'' but not until one 
or more pairs of shoes had been cut, and possibly 
spoiled, thus materially reducing the w^ages of the 
week. These fenders were afterwards made of 
lead and pewter, or block tin, (later still fenders 
were made of copper,) melted together in such 
proportions that they would not be too hard and 
brittle on the one hand, nor too soft and easily cut 
on the other ; these were generally called " stitch- 
leads." They were usually run in a " mould " cut in 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 37 

a piece of pine board, and a boy's first attempt at 
this experiment filled him with a responsibility as 
great, perhaps, as that felt by Brunnel when he 
constructed his model for the Thames tunnel. 

The man who could cut hair had more opportu- 
nities to display his talent than were profitable ; 
as a recognition of this talent was considered an 
equivalent compensation for the service rendered ; 
and as most of this work was done on Sunday, the 
wielder of the shears did not consider himself 
"out" much. It might also be mentioned as bear- 
ing incidentally on this point, that there were some 
in those days, as now, that did not attend church 
on rainy Sunday forenoons. The hair-cutting of 
that time was hardly a decorative art. 

As already hinted, some were much better pro- 
vided with "kit " than others. A man with three 
or four boys at w^ork w^as often obliged to econo- 
mize in this particular, and certain tools were 
passed round from one to the other as each had oc- 
casion to use them. Accordingly one would hear — 
"shoulder-stick, Joe," "long-stick, Jim," "paste- 
horn, Jed." which had a marked effect in breaking 
up the monotony, if there ever w^as any monotony in 
a shoemaker's shop. At such times it was unsafe to 
cross the shop, as the danger from flying "kit" 
varied according to the size and weight of the tool 
that happened to be in the air at a given time. 

The apron of the old-time shoemaker was made 



38 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ol leather — sometimes of calf-skin, but generally of 
sheep-skin. The old settlers in Lynn who came 
from Marblehead — and there were many such 
here — called these aprons " barvels " (pronounced 
"borvuL") Most of these workmen were fisher- 
men in early life who made their summer trip to 
the "Grand Banks," or up the "Straits," and em- 
ployed their winters in working at the " craft." 
The " barvel " was a short apron worn to protect 
the knees from the splashing of water in washing 
out the fish preparatory to curing them or drying 
them upon the "flakes." As might be supposed, 
there were a good many sea phrases, or "salt 
notes," as they were called, used in the shops. In 
the morning one would hear, "Come, Jake, hoist 
the sails," which was simply a call to roll up the 
curtains. When it was time to " quit work" in the 
evening some one would say, " I guess it 's about 
time to 'douse the glim,'" which meant in more 
classic English to put out the lights. This phrase 
is used by Walter Scott : Webster marks it as 
slang. " Glim " is provincial German for light or 
spark. "Douse," Webster says, is from "dout," 
an old word signifying to extinguish. These "salt 
notes " were adapted to all occasions. If a boy 
got upon his " tantrums," and displayed his enthu- 
siasm in too marked a manner, he would be sud- 
denly checked with the authoritative cry, "Avast 
there ; avast I " If debate ran high upon some ex- 



SHOEMAKING IN THK OI.DEN TIME. 39 

citing topic, some veteran would quietly remark, 
"Squally, squally to-day. Come, better /?^jf and 
bear away." 

The long winter evenings were considered equal 
to half a day. Work was often continued as late 
as ten o'clock, and not unfrequently the glimmer- 
ing light would be seen in the dim distance at a 
much later hour. The light was obtained in early 
times from tallow candles, then made in almost 
every household. In later times, as whale oil 
became cheaper, lamps were used to some extent. 
Snuffers were indispensable to keep the wicks 
"snuffed," and when the lights were in good trim, 
all that were burning in one of these shops would 
give nearly as much light as one good kerosene 
lamp. When the candles needed " snuffing " a 
man with good eyesight could see all the way 
across the shop. How work, requiring the nicety 
of the shoemakers art, could be carried on in those 
days of candles and dim-burning oil lamps, is a 
mystery to those living at the present time. 

One bo}- in a shop made a good deal of amuse- 
ment ; three or four made an entertainment. Some- 
times one of these boys would be unusually pre- 
cocious. He was ready for any emergency. He 
was full of information, and had a word of com- 
ment or suggestion on every occurence likely to 
take place. He generally gained the title of " old 
man." When some important matter was under 



40 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



discussion, some one of the crew would remark, 
"What does the 'old man" sa\' about it?" When 
this advanced youth had made some exceptionally 
wise observation, some one would improvise a song, 
beginning, "old age came on" — or something of 
similar import — the rest of the crew joining to 
swell the chorus. This was the sort of bo}' of 
whom it was said that " his father boarded with 
him." He never went after a left-handed whet- 
stone but once. One of these boys had occasion 
to do an errand at the old " Union store " — an 
establishment of which more will be said hereaf- 
ter. He was accompanied by a younger brother. 
Amos A., who was often present at the store, and 
who had a quiet vein of humor running through 
him, watched their movements with a good deal of 
interest. After making the several purchases for 
which they were sent, they concluded to regale 
themselves with oranges. The supply not proving 
quite sufficient, "they held a consultation," as A. 
relates the stor}-, "whether it was best to have a 
second slap at 'em." This was decided upon, and 
the older concluded the arrangement by telling the 
man in the store to charge the goods to his father. 
A. looked at the boy with gravity imprinted upon 
every lineament of his countenance and inquired, 
" Have you a father living f^^ The boy saw through 
it in an instant, and showed himself equal to the 
emergency, "Yes," said he. "^ hut he's a 'pretty old 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 4I 

man." The b3-standers roared with laughter, and 
A. gave ill beat. 

The vocabulary of the shoemaker was Shaks- 
perean in two particulars — it was expressive and 
comprehensive. Besides being enriched with "salt 
notes," already mentioned, it was supplemented 
with foreign words and phrases, brought home by 
those who had been in foreign lands : for many of 
these had tempted the " briny " in their early days. 
Many had taken one trip to the "Banks," or up the 
"Straits," or possibly made a voyage to a distant 
foreign port — to Bilboa, and, perhaps, even to the 
East Indies. With many of these their first voyage 
was their last, in which case they were said to have 
"killed the sailor." Most of these youths, on their 
return, were going right away on a second trip. 
One of the reasons often given was, they wanted to 
get a chance to "lick" the second mate. But it was 
noticed that there was usually a good deal of delay 
about the second voyage. It was found to be more 
difficult to get a "good chance," and so the enthu- 
siasm gradually died away and they settled down to 
work at the "old craft." If one of these was quite 
young, he would appear in the streets for a few 
days after his return dressed in " salt rig " — a jaunty 
cap on one side of his head, and a pair of pants very 
tight just below the waist and very large at the 
lower part of the legs. One of these, dressed in 
such a " rig " that made it really perilous for him to 
6 



42 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Stoop, was heard to remark that there was one 
trouble with his pants — they were n't quite tight 
enough across the hips, and were too small in the 
legs. For many weeks such a youth would en- 
chant his more juvenile companions with tales of 
peril by sea and land, with hair-breadth escapes 
from starvation and shipwreck, of strange sights in 
the heavens above and in the sea beneath. Per- 
haps he had sailed in an old '' hidc-droghcr " to Cali- 
fornia for hides, and had been lowered down the 
sides of the precipice that almost jutted into the sea 
to dislodge a few hides that had caught in the 
crevices of the rocks as they were flung from the 
top to be picked up by the crew on the beach be- 
low — as Mr. Dana in his " Two Years Before the 
Mast " tells us was his experience. Or, perhaps, he 
had " shipped " in a whaler, and sailed in all seas 
and landed at all the ports wherever traffic directed 
them, or stress of weather drove them. Then he 
would have pitiful tales to tell of harsh treatment 
on shipboard ; of the danger in capturing whales ; 
of what a brave harpooner they had on board, who 
was n't afraid of anything that ran on the land or 
swam in the sea. Then he would wind up with a 
thrilling recital of an encounter with a wounded 
whale, which, with one sweep of his tail, sent the 
boat into the air with all its crew, who would have 
been drowned if they had not been picked up. 
These " salt yarns " and Robinson Crusoe ad- 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 43 

ventures were generally told in the evening as the 
boys sat on some convenient doorstep, or on a 
grassy bank under a fence : and the imagination 
of many a boy was doubtless fired by the recital of 
these thrilling tales, until he burned to witness for 
himself the wonders he had heard related. And so 
it is not surprising that the "' sea fever " raged occa- 
sionally. When the disease got fairly hold of a 
boy, there was no cure but a sea voyage. Dark 
hints were at first thrown out, and then muttered 
threatenings to "run off" were heard. If paternal 
warnings and maternal pleadings were alike un- 
availing to check the fever, a reluctant consent was 
sometimes given by the parents, and the boy was 
put on board some vessel for a trip supposed to be 
most in accordance with his wishes ; but with how 
manv misgivinos and crushincr fears some who 
read these pages can tell. It is not to be supposed 
that the captain was always charged to keep the 
boy from getting wet, and to see that his sleep was 
not disturbed o' nights. When consent was not 
given, the boy who had the fever " bad " would lay 
his plans to run away. He would slowly collect a 
stock of doughnuts, and putting his scanty ward- 
robe in a bandanna handkerchief, and softly creep- 
ing down stairs in the night, would be several 
miles from home before breakfast the next morn- 
ing. As this was before railroads, considerable 
walking had to be done. Search would be made 



44 SKETCHES OF l.YNN. 

in Salem, Marblehead, Boston, perhaps New Bed- 
ford ; but oftentimes, before the exploring party re- 
turned, the boy came back with a smaller bundle. 
The bandanna handkerchief was the same, the 
wardrobe w^as the same, but the doughnuts had 
been transferred. But though the number that 
timed it to get home while the doughnuts lasted 
made quite a per cent, of those who wandered off 
under the influence of the "salt fever," there were 
many who eluded the vigilance of their pursuers 
and found their tirst opportunity in Fayal, or some 
more distant port, to send to the old folks at home 
an account of their sicjhts and sufterincjs since leav- 
ing the paternal roof. As these letters were not 
for the public eye, they often contained an intima- 
tion that a sea voyage in a whaler or a hide- 
drogher was not exactly a pleasure trip. When 
some of these boys returned from their first voyage 
they knew less of their native town than Ulysses of 
his native land after his ten years' wanderings. 
One of these, just returned from a three years' trip, 
had utterly lost all recollection of early scenes and 
former associates. The conveyance landed him 
within twenty rods of his father's house. Taking 
a small silver piece from his pocket, he handed it 
to the first boy he met, with the remark, " Here, 
boy, take me to the old man's house." 

The sea experience of many of these shoemakers 
gave a "salt" aspect to some of these shops, espec- 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 45 

iall\" in the eastern portion of the town, that was 
noticeable at a glance. They would accost each 
other as " shipmates," and in wet weather would 
wear their tarpaulins. They would go to the door 
and take an "observation," and in threatening 
weather vvould predict that it W'ould " blow great 
guns." They would read the signs in a "mack- 
erel-back sky," and give warnings of the changes 
likely to follow the appearance of a " sun-dog " or 
a " \o\\ dawn." 

BLACK-STRAP. 

Webster defines " black-strap " as a beverage 
made of some kind of spirituous liquor and molasses. 
Bartlett says that this name was given by English 
sailors to common Mediterranean wines. In Lynn 
— and probably in New England generally — 
black-strap was made of New England rum and 
molasses, modified to suit the taste of those most 
interested in compounding it. It must be borne in 
mind that these were the days when temperance 
organizations were hardly known ; betbre the con- 
troversy betw^een " moral suasionists " and " legal 
suasionists " had begun ; before the fifteen gallon 
law^ was enacted ; when the history and literature 
of the " striped pig " were unwritten ; and when the 
Washingtonian movement, so wide-spread in its 
influence, was several years in the future. All 
classes used spirituous liquor as taste or inclination 



46 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

suffcfested ; and as the shoemaker was included in 
that comprehensive category, he drank with the 
rest. There were, of course, some individual ex- 
ceptions to this rule : and in some neighborhoods 
the custom of keeping a supply of black-strap, or 
other liquor, in the shoemakers' shops was not so 
common as in other localities. Some, doubtless, 
thinking this custom pernicious in its influence on 
the boys, kept their supply of stimulants at home ; 
and a very few, even at that early da}', abstained 
from the use of liquor entirely. 

Black-strap might be regarded as a steady drink, 
though other methods of mixing " New England " 
were often employed. Some preferred their rum 
sweetened w'ith sugar — in which case it was called 
" gi"og " or " a horn " — especially by those w^ho had 
had sea experience. Others had theirs dashed 
with hot water. This was called "toddy'' — in 
later years abbreviated into "tod." This was a 
favorite drink on cold winter evenings, from which 
circumstance it probably took the name of " night- 
cap." 

• The authorities tell us that " grog " originally 
meant rum diluted with water, and took its name 
from the following circumstance : — It seems that 
Admiral Vernon, of the English navy, was the 
first who crave an allowance of rum to British 
sailors. Vernon wore a " grogam " cloak in rough 
weather, and " Old Grog," at first applied to him as 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 47 

a nickname by his men, was afterwards applied to 
the Hquor which the Admiral's generosity had sup- 
plied. 

The shoemaker's vocabulary of terms applied to 
drinking and drunkenness was quite extensive, and 
some of them were peculiar to the locality and the 
craft. If a man was very drunk, he was "blind as 
a bat," or ''well corned," or ''well stove in," or 
''slewed," or "cocked," or "well smashed." In 
later times such were said to '' carry a heavy tur- 
key," or a "brick in their hat." As showing how 
history repeats itself, even in what seems to be the 
peculiarities of an age or a class, it is only neces- 
sary to read the records which have preserved the 
expressions and epithets that characterize the vice 
of drunkenness. Heywood, an English author, 
writing in 1635, gives the following phrases then 
in use for being drunk : — " He is foxt, he is flawed, 
he is flustered, he has swallowed a tavern-token, he 
has whipt the cat, he is bit by a barn-weasel, he is 
somewhat whittled." 

Various expedients were resorted to, to keep up 
the supply of black-strap. The one who made the 
most or the fewest shoes, the best or the poorest, 
paid the "scot." Bets were made on all occasions 
admitting the element of chance, or on which hung 
a possible future contingency. Small games of 
chance, the stakes of which were black-strap, were 
frequently made. A common game was played 



48 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

with a " shoulder-stick." This was called "trolling 
the tog." These "sticks" were marked on the 
several sides, beginning with one, and going up to 
four, making ten in all. Each player was allowed 
three twirls, or "trolls," of the "stick" as his turn 
came, an arrangement that made twelve the highest 
number attainable at a single trial, and whoever 
showed the lowest figures, paid the bet. When a 
young man attained his majority, on birthdays, on 
weddinff davs, and many other days, the supply 
was expected to be ample. At " house-laising" 
and " pig-killing " occasions, nothing short of a 
large quantity was sufficient to meet the demand. 
In those days it took something less than a hundred 
men to "raise" a large building. All the carpen- 
ters from far and near, and all the men in the 
neighborhood were generally summoned to the 
herculean task. A whole side of a building was 
"raised" at a time, and the degree of responsibility 
felt by the " boss " carpenter was hardly less than 
that experienced by the master - builder at the 
launching of a ship. When the critical point was 
passed, a general feeling of relief and a good 
" swig " of black-strap came pretty close together. 

In warm weather a sail or ride to the " Pines," or 
Nahant, or Phillips' Point, was frequently the pro- 
gramme for the day. The fifth of July was com- 
monly selected for this purpose. This was con- 
sidered a "tapering off" to the more formal and 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 49 

ostentatious celebration of the " glorious Fourth.'' 
A good supply of potatoes, crackers, salt pork, 
pots, pans and kettles, begides minor articles neces- 
sary for the indispensable " chowder " and " nipper- 
fr}^" were got on board the boat or wagon, at the 
end of which extended the "nipper-poles," clearly 
indicating the character of the trip. One or more 
jugs were put on board, the contents of which no 
one seemed to know. They were too large for 
vinegar. One contained black-strap, which was 
usually prepared by an expert. Three things were 
requisite — good rum, good molasses, and just 
enough of each. Water was put in as a less im- 
portant element, and the rule concerning its use, 
as in making lemonade, was purely negative — not 
too much. 

These excursions were conducted in the most 
democratic manner. The most perfect equality 
prevailed. Nobod\' was allowed to " put on airs," 
or " show oftV If Nahant was the point of desti- 
nation, and the conveyance w-as by w^agon, a short 
* ride across the incomparable beaches brought the 
party to " Bass Point " or " North Spring," the two 
chief objective points for a Nahant " fish mess." 
The harbor-side road was then unknown. Once 
there, they w'ere monarchs of all they surveyed. 
They could roam unchecked from " Bass Point " to 
the most easterly limit, and from " North Spring " 
to " Swallows' Cave." with but few obstructions. 



50 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

except here and there an old wall, the ancient 
boundary that marked the lands then owned by the 
few proprietors of that noted peninsula. Only here 
and there a cottage was seen : and in place of those 
sloping lawns and magnificent gardens that now 
adorn that unrivaled spot, scanty pastures and 
ragged ledges stretched from shore to shore. The 
transforming hand of man has since added the 
beauty of art to nature's sublimest work, and stran- 
gers from distant lands now come to look upon this 
"jewel by the sea." 

But not much time could be spent in strolling 
around, as there was considerable work to be done. 
There was a division of labor, each doing what 
taste or talent suggested. Some went to catch fish, 
some to dig clams, and some to .gather wood to 
make the needed fire ; while he who had charge ot 
the cooking began the necessary arrangements tor 
the first meal. The man who was invested with 
this responsibility was supposed to know how to 
make a chowder. He was generally assisted by 
one or two boys, who were not utterly indifterent* 
to the issue of that day's events — especially to 
those culminating in dinner. Prof. Blot might 
have told these men something about cooking, but 
they would have something to say in reply. They 
would have asked him if he knew how to fry 
a " watery halibut " without breaking ; if he could 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 51 

tell a " loga cod " if he saw one ; and whether he 
would have fried or broiled a "bloater" mackerel. 

As already remarked, fastidious tastes were not 
much indulged in. Not many ate exclusively with 
their forks, and principally for the reason that there 
were no forks there ; and there were not man}- 
waiters standing around. The dinner was one — 
as Daniel Webster said of a "' scrod " — " fit for a 
king." During its progress jokes were perpetrated 
and stories told, some of them good enough for 
Harper's Drazcer. After it was disposed of, there 
was leisure for any diversion that might be sug- 
gested, such as quoits, wrestling, etc. Bv the 
merest accident — apparently — some one would 
produce a pack of cards, and a quiet game was 
played, broken only by an occasional explosive 
"guffaw," that followed the firing off of a joke. 
Often one or more fine singers were among the 
party, and songs, patriotic, sentimental or festive, 
enlivened the hours and varied the entertainment. 
But no day was so crowded either with incidents or 
accidents that the black-strap was forgotten. Its 
mellowing influence was everywhere seen as night 
approached, and any one who had a genial streak 
in his nature, or a note of music in his soul, now 
gave full utterance to the impulse struggling with- 
in him. 

The ride home was the culmination of the dav's 
experiences. The height of mellowness was 



52 SKETCHEJ? OF LYNN. 

reached, and each man's traits — if he had any — 
shone forth in full blaze. This high state of mental 
exaltation generally found utterance in song. This 
performance could not be called a concert without 
the grossest violation of the etymology of that word. 
The only condition that was fulfilled was, they all 
sung at the same time. Songs of the most miscel- 
laneous and diverse character, each sung to a dif- 
ferent tune, and pitched to a different key, made 
an entertainment which, if not strictly musical, had 
variety, expression and volume. Perhaps some 
one would start a fugue tune, and all would attempt 
to join ; but the parts would follow at irregular 
intervals until they telescoped into each other, 
leaving a chasm which some one having the repu- 
tation of being " great on a slur " — musically speak- 
ing — would attempt to bridge over by prolonging 
his part until the dilatory forces should fetch up. 
This indescribable performance usually ended in 
a climax of explosive laughter half-way between 
a "guffaw" and a musical howl. Besides this gen- 
eral entertainment there were sundry side plays. 
Perhaps some one, overcome with the exertions 
of the day — and something else — would be in 
that " balmy " state that lifted him high above the 
cares and sorrows of his earthly lot. His perfect 
contentment would now crop out in a sentimental 
ditty or " pennyroyal " refrain, the burden of which 
was that he was at peace with all the world. 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 53 

NEW ENGLAND RUM. 

It is hardly necessary to say that the commodity 
known as New England rum was a favorite liquor 
in this section from an early period in our histor\'. 
Besides the fame it had acquired upon its own 
merits, it had a high renown as the basis of numer- 
ous popular beverages. The manufacture and sale 
of New England rum reached a magnitude during 
the fifty years following the Revolution that rose 
above almost every other manufacturing industry 
of the land. Nearly all the rum distilled in the 
country was made in New England ; hence its 
name ; and Massachusetts distilled more than all 
the rest of the New England states. In 1783 she 
had sixty distilleries in full blast. In 1821 Salem 
had eight distilleries. In 1831 she had six. 

In Newport, in the last century, there were thirty 
places where new rum was manufactured. In Med- 
ford large quantities were made even betbre the 
Revolution ; but " old Medford " did not acquire that 
special renown in Lynn, which it had had for many 
years elsewhere, until a period later than that to 
which these papers relate. Medford rum gained its 
high fame — so history tells us — from the fact that 
a spring of water of great excellence was found 
near where the first distillery stood. Perhaps this 
was the reason why some, when thev took it, were 



54 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

not inclined to dilute it with water of an inferior 
quality. 

Salem was noted for the quantity and quality of 
its " New England," and her manufactures of this 
staple date back to early times. Fifty years ago, 
and even less, Salem rum stood at the top. Boston 
rum stood high, but the Salem article outranked it. 
Accordingly Salem rum was a frequent quotation. 
The sight of boys going along the streets with tin 
pails and jugs was not a rare one ; and these were 
not all milk pails and vinegar jugs. The mistake 
of such a supposition anight have happened some 
years later when the following incident took place : 
but it would not have occured many years earlier. 
An original character, well known in this vicinity 
as a joker and a judge of " New England," was 
seen bending beneath the weight of a three-gallon 
jug that was evidently filled with something. " / 
suppose,''^ said he, ^^ that some folks will think this is 
vinegar : hut it ain't."' As the boys with their jugs 
and pails entered the stores where Salem rum was 
sold, there was no particular bashfulness or reserve 
on their part, or any winking or special wariness 
on the part of the vender. If the boy wanted Sa- 
lem rum, he said so. He didn't call Holland gin 
" Scheidam Schnapps," or new rum " orange balm " 
or " plum juice." 

Large quantities of anise seed and snake-root 
cordials were drank in the olden time. Fiftv years 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 55 

ago these cordials were peddled round the streets, 
as milk is now peddled, and were besides found in 
almost all the stores where the common neces- 
saries of life were sold. These were used by 
persons in delicate health, whose constitutions could 
not bear the stronger national beverage. Cases 
were known of the use of these cordials by persons 
whose constitutions were not particularly affected, 
or whose health was not seriously undermined. In 
Felt's " Annals of Salem " we are informed that 
Peter Jones distilled cinnamon, snake-root, clove- 
water, anise seed, orange, etc. Medford also dis- 
tilled large quantities of these cordials. Every im- 
portant event, whether political, social, or domestic, 
created a special demand for new rum. 

The day when a pig was to be killed was an im- 
portant occasion. Three or four men — generally 
assisted by several boys — could kill and dress one 
pig in an afternoon. In those days almost every 
man kept a pig, and one or more " hog-butchers " 
were found in every neighborhood. As about the 
same preparations were needed for the killing of a 
single animal as were required for half a dozen, 
there was a stirring time on many a Saturday 
afternoon, the day usually chosen to change the 
pig into pork. The bringing of something less 
than a barrel of water was the first step. This w^as 
often brought two pails at a time, the pails sepa- 
rated by an iron hoop resting against the bails, the 



56 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

carrier standing in the center. It was often neces- 
sary, however, to take a good many steps in getting 
the water, as not every house had a well on the 
premises, and water had to be brought from a 
neighbor's more or less distant. Then a large fire- 
had to be built to heat the water sufficiently hot to 
take the bristles off of the hog, (he generally got 
to be a hog before he was killed,) and some rosin 
pulverized to be used in making the cleaning more 
complete. This was a great event for the boys 
belonging to the establishment, who, taking do- 
mestic view of the matter, saw with a clear vision 
the bearing of that day's event upon the larder for 
many weeks to come. Besides spareribs, sausages, 
hams, etc., which occupied the forefront of the 
picture so full of solid comfort, they saw the inci- 
dental relations of the event in progress to dough- 
nuts, pies, baked beans, etc., which make up. 
severally and collectively, so large a part of a boy's 
Elysium. 

A story is told of one of these occasions that illus- 
trates the spirit of the times in more senses than one. 

The hero of the occasion may as well be called 
"Barnes" as anything else. Barnes could have given 
no very satisfactor}- explanation of the precession of 
the equinoxes, but he kept a pig and performed 
the various duties of a neighbor and citizen to the 
general satisfaction of those most interested. In 
due course of time this pig became a hog. The 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 57 

"pig committee" had taken their hist look at him. 
and the day was set for his exit from the st}'^ to the 
dressing-tub. The party who had charge of the 
affair assembled, and the spokesman gave Barnes 
timely warning that two quarts of " New England " 
were needed to start with. The rum was furnished ; 
one quart was drank, the other poured into the well. 
" Barnes, the rum is all gone," said the spokesman ; 
"we shall want two quarts more." " Tar blow it, is 
that rum all gone?" said Barnes. "All gone," 
was the response. Two quarts more were sup- 
plied : one quart was drank, the other poured into 
the well. The process was repeated as the pro- 
cess of changing the conditions of the hog went on, 
and as night approached it was currently reported 
that x\unt Sally's w-ell furnished pretty good' rum. 

In this case rum played the most conspicuous 
part in Barnes' experience ; but he had an adven- 
ture in which a pig, or the pig (for tradition does 
not inform us whether it was the identical pig above 
alluded to) played by all odds the most important 
and attractive part. This pig broke«loose from his 
sty one day. and rejoicing in his freedom, careered 
around the yard and garden, whose bounds now 
checked his desire for a larger liberty. Barnes, 
who had received notice of the enlarged view which 
the pig was taking, gave chase. As was usual in 
such cases the chase was watched with a good deal 
of interest by the crew who witnessed the spectacle 
S 



58 SKETCHES OF LVNN. 

from the windows of the shop near by. The chase 
proceeded with ever-varying prospects of success. 
Sometimes the pig would be dangerously near 
Barnes' legs ; and then wdth an " oof he would 
"' scoot " off at the sharpest possible angle to the 
remotest corner of the garden. One of the crew, 
named Downing, became much interested and put 
a question, or rather proposed a conundrum, which 
Barnes, in his excited frame of mind, was in no 
condition to answer — "Why don't you catch him, 
Barnes ? " Barnes stopped, and with great delib- 
eration, exclaimed, " I believe it 's just seventy-five.''' 
As this oracular sentence is something of an 
enigma, it may be well to explain. Barnes held 
the position of creditor among the crew, some of 
whom — Downing among others — were in the 
habit of borrowing small sums, the amount of which 
was duly chalked upon the door. Downing's stood 
at seventy-five cents. When a dispute arose that 
ran into personal reflections, and Barnes was 
twitted of any delinquency, he would close the de- 
bate by pointing w-ith impressive silence — and his 
finger — to the figures on the door. As this was 
not practicable while chasing a pig, he substituted 
the less impressive oral statement given above. In 
cases of emergency Barnes was in the habit of 
using expletives, and occasionally employed an 
adjective more appropriate to theological writings. 
On one occasion Barnes had lighted his candles 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 59 

for his evenino-'s work. As was often the case with 
poor candles, they burned blue for a while, then 
sputtered, and then went out. Young Martin, a 
youth who had arrived at that aggravating age too 
old to claim the exemptions of boyhood, and too 
young to take on the responsibilities of maturer 
age, saw the performance, and evidently felt an in- 
terest in the experiment. Barnes lighted the candles 
again, and left the shop for a few minutes. Martin 
blew out the lights, and with a wet sponge squeezed 
a drop of water upon the wick of each candle. 
Barnes, on his return, Ibund his lights out, and 
supposing the tallow-chandler to blame, renewed 
his efforts to light up, but with no success. Martin 
held in as long as he could, but, boy-like, at last 
"snickered.'' Light dawned upon the mind of 
Barnes, though he got none from the candles, and 
fixing a penetrating gaze upon Martin, thus ad- 
dressed him : — " Toti ^rc an — adjective — ignorant 
young man .'" He then examined his candles, 
with the view of getting more light upon the sub- 
lect. 

BREAKING AWLS. 

Perhaps one of the sorest experiences a boy had 
in old times in learning the " craft, " w^as that which 
came from breaking awls. In order to fully appre- 
ciate the situation, the reader must take a survey 
of the whole field. It was a period of low wages. 



6o SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Awls were the most expensive '' kit " used by the 
shoemaker. There \vere two kinds chiefly used at 
that time — Woodward's and Hayes'. Woodward 
was the old manufacturer to whom Hayes was an 
apprentice ; but the " 'prentice hand " was soon able 
to turn out an article superior to that of his master — 
at least, this seemed to be the opinion of many 
among the ''jours " of Lynn. But Woodward was 
for a long time unrivaled. The common price was 
five cents each. Some time after the price was re- 
duced to four cents. These awls were introduced 
something more than sixty years ago. They were 
manufactured by Thomas Woodward, of Reading, 
Mas's. A few years later his son, Thomas Wood- 
w^ard, Jr., set up the manufacture, and it was a 
question among the shoemakers which were the 
best. 

The awls were of two kinds, diamond and round, 
so called from the shape of their points. The dia- 
mond-shaped were usual)}' preferred, as they were 
thought to be less liable to become dulled by use ; 
but the so-called round awls — these were rather 
flattened at their points — were often used by "don" 
workmen, as they were less liable to "cut" the 
"upper." The awls first in use in this country 
were of English manufacture. The name of the 
manufacturer was stamped upon each awl, and 
there were three kinds, more or less in use, some 
fifty or more years ago when those of American 



SHOEINIAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 6l 

make began to take their place. These were known 
as the Allerton, Wilson, and Titus awls, respec- 
tively. After the introduction of the American awl, 
the English article was not held in very high es- 
teem by workmen employed upon ladies' shoes. 
They were badly shaped, and the points were left 
unfinished. The Allerton and Wilson had usuall}^ 
too long a crook, while the Titus was faulty in the 
opposite direction, being too straight, especially for 
certain kinds of work. They had, however, two 
important recommendations — they were better 
tempered, and therefore less liable to break, and 
their cost was only one-half, or less, that of the 
American awl. 

Before the English awl was used, it was neces- 
sary to finish the points. This w'as sometimes 
done by grinding, sometimes by filing, and some- 
times by sandpaper ; and the points were smoothed 
ofi'on a ''whet-board," or by rubbing them on the 
pine floor. The man who could do this job skill- 
fully was considered something of a genius. As 
already intimated, a boy could spoil a day's wages 
by breaking a few awls. If he was working on the 
seam on " long reds," and had a lot of extra hard 
soles on hand — some hctnlock tanned leather for 
instance, — he had gloomy forebodings of the peril 
of the situation. If the master was a "hard" one, 
and the boy somewhat careless, there would most 
likely be an appeal to the " stirrup," whenever ac- 



62 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

cidents of this kind rose above the average in fre- 
quency. History tells us that small events have 
often turned the tide of battle — that a fit of indi- 
gestion was said to have lost to Napoleon an im- 
portant battle. Victor Hugo informs us that if the 
French peasant, Lacoste, had not failed to warn 
Napoleon of the " sunken road " near the field of 
Waterloo, the destiny' of Europe might have been 
changed. In the same line many humbler ex- 
amples might be given. An elderly citizen im- 
formed the writer that it was to one of these awl- 
breaking experiences that he owed one or two 
years' additional schooling. How much this modi- 
fied his future life who can tell ? 

THE STIRRUP. 

As might be expected, boys working in a shop 
together would often " skylark." One of this sort 
of boys was seated upon the shop-tub. This "tub " 
was a tall, firkin-shaped vessel, about one-third 
full of water at the date in question. By careful 
managing the boy kept himself from going down 
too far. Boy number two, seeing the precarious- 
ness of the situation, made a dive for his comrade, 
which resulted in seating him so far into the tub 
that he could not start without taking the tub with 
him. In the tussle he was rolled over with the 
shop-tub, and the boy, and all the surrounding 



SHOEINIAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 63 

" berths " were drenched with a gallon or two of 
nasty water. In such cases the " stirrup " generally 
settled the matter to the satisfaction of all except 
those most interested. The " stirrup," as an em- 
blem or instrument of authority, held the same place 
in a shoemaker's shop as the horsewhip or cowhide 
maintained on a more extended scale on the farm, 
and in agricultural districts generally ; and prob- 
ably for the same reason, it was near at hand. 
Boys are generally flogged when it is most conven- 
ient, and with what comes handiest. Accordingly 
a " stirruping " frequently made up a part of a day's 
programme, and when "down in the bill" could 
more generally be depended upon than the more 
dainty items on a bill of fare. A boy in the east- 
ern part of the town was once murmuring some re- 
pinings over his earthly lot. " What do you want ? " 
asked his master. " / zuant something else,'' said 
the boy, in a high tenor voice. "I'll give you 
something else," said the master, and taking a 
stirrup made the case so plain to the boy that he 
could see no flaw in his master's statement. 

Boys were sometimes sent on errands in those 
days, as now. Occasionally a domestic crisis 
would arise demanding haste on the part of the boy. 
Perhaps the tinder was wet, and he was sent after 
a " brand's end ; " or some other article was wanted, 
indispensable in a well-regulated family which had 
entered upon the second quarter of the nineteenth 



64 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

century. The reader can imagine any number of 
such cases, more or less momentous, that have 
come to his own knowledge. In some such an 
emergency a bov was sent on an errand some time 
during Jackson's administration. No tidings were 
heard from him, at least by those most interested 
in his safe return. If a boy was ever known to do 
such a thing w^hen he w'as strictly charged to 
" make haste," he might have stopped to have a 
game of marbles, or " two old cat." His father 
thought it was time to hunt him up : and taking his 
stirrup and stowing it away in the outside pocket 
of his green jacket, started in pursuit. In his haste 
he had left the end of the stirrup hanging out of 
the jacket pocket. The boy espied from afar some- 
body who had a familiar look, and whose move- 
ments showed that he was not out for a stroll, or to 
observe the beauties of nature. He also espied at 
the same instant the end of the stirrup hanging out 
of the jacket pocket aforesaid. This was a signal 
showing a low barometer and approaching storms. 
Without stopping to finish the game, or appoint a 
substitute to take his place, he started and reached 
home bv a route whose boundaries had not been 
marked out by the selectmen as a public highway. 
He never told w^hat were the precise terms of the 
final settlement after reaching the paternal roof; 
but in after years he used to relate with great gusto 
how the siijnal of danger streaming from the jacket 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 65 

pocket had given him timely warning of impend- 
ing peril. He had escaped the humiliation of a 
public castigation in the presence of his juvenile 
peers — and what humiliation can be greater in the 
eyes of a boy ? 

Sometimes a high degree of despotism was main- 
tained over the boys working in some of these 
shops. They were regarded as having no rights 
that the men were bound to respect. They w^ere 
expected to build the fire, " shift the tub," go for 
the black-strap, and run all the errands which the 
changes of circumstances required as the whirligig 
of time rolled on. If he objected, or remonstrated, 
he was called an "old man," prefixing an adjective 
the use of which is not countenanced in any manual 
of good behavior. An old veteran, now* living and 
well known in our city, relates the following chap- 
ter in his own experience : ' 

He w^as then a bo}- whose fourteenth birthday 
was near at hand. He had been domineered over 
and imposed upon b}- the shop's crew where he 
worked, and he resolved to end his degrading vas- 
salage. He w^as a stout, muscular boy, and had a 
grip in his hands like that of a polar bear. When 
his birthday arrived he resolved to declare his inde- 
pendence. He informed the crew that henceforth 
he was not to be at their beck and call, and he 
gave them very emphatic warning that if the}^ at- 
tempted to drive him he was readv for anv emer- 
9 



66 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

gency. One of the crew had the temerity to make 
the trial ; but before he had proceeded far, he 
found himself laid out upon his seat, his throat in 
the grip of the left hand of the young athlete, who 
informed his prostrate victim that no quarter would 
be given until he promised to respect the rights of 
his juvenile assailant. The workman, -half choked 
and wholly frightened, made all the promises de- 
manded. He was then allowed to get up. " Now," 
said the boy, "if there are any more who want to 
try their hand at this experiment, come right on." 
None felt like coming on. '^ From that day," said 
the old veteran, "I was free." 

UNCLE PERKINS. 

"Uncle Perkins," as he was familiarly called, 
was well known to the shoemakers of Lynn. As 
he entered one of these shops — whether a "ten- 
footer," or one of larger size — he had hard work to 
put himself, and his two large bundles, into the 
entry — measuring two and a half feet by three on 
the floor, when it did n't measure less — at the 
same time ; and so one of the bundles made its ap- 
pearance just inside the inside-door, while the other 
was partly outside the outside-door. If it was a 
cold day, the first salutation would be — "Uncle 
Perkins, shut the door as quick as possible ; you '11 
cool ofl' the shop." But if no question of tempera- 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 67 

ture overrode all other questions for the time being, 
then any one of the dozen questions might arise, 
such as — " What kind of bristles (commonly called 
" brussels " by shoemakers) have you got to-day ?" 
or, '' got some soft wax ? We 've got some that 
' flies ' all over the shop ; '" or, " Uncle Perkins, I 
shall want •some awls ; my boy broke two or three 
this forenoon ; " or, " got some fine sand-paper ? " 
To all of which Uncle Perkins would generally be 
able to reply in the affirmative. 

It is hardly necessary to say to any one acquaint- 
ed with Lynn thirty or forty years ago, that these 
two bundles which Uncle Perkins carried were 
made up of all sorts of shoemakers' " kit," from a 
"tack'" up to a "long-stick," and two bundle hand- 
kerchiefs, just alike, each made of blue-striped ging- 
ham, or of something else. Uncle Perkins would 
make his rounds once in a fortnight, more or less, 
and his advent was sometimes looked for with a 
good deal of interest. After the several purchases 
were made, and the incidental comments upon the 
high or low price of this or that piece of kit, the 
conversation would often take a wider range, and 
show a decided political complexion — for Uncle 
Perkins was thoroughly imbued with the principles 
and doctrines of the Democratic party. He was 
well informed upon political questions, a man of 
sterling integrity of character, and was looked up 
to as a sort of oracle by the members of his party 



68 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

throughout the town. So it was natural for some 
one to say, "Uncle Perkins, how are the elections 
going next fall? Has Clay got an}' chance?" "Not 
much, not much," Uncle Perkins would say, and 
then he would follow with his comments, telling 
what would give Polk the vote of this state, and 
what would give him the vote of the otker. " You 
see native Americanism will tip him over in New 
York, and it looks as though the whole thing would 
turn on that state. The Whigs are making a good 
deal of noise about carrying New York, but they 
can't do it. Then Clay's extreme tariff notions 
will damage him south. Besides all this, the peo- 
ple have had enough of this hard-cider nonsense." 

Like man}' of the Democratic leaders of those 
days, Uncle Perkins was opposed to the adoption 
of the city charter. He thought he saw lurking 
beneath the surface of its plausible provisions an 
insidious enemy of the people's rights. The con- 
centration of power in the hands of the few, argued 
these leaders, was the rock upon which all the dem- 
ocracies of the world had split. " The old-fashion- 
ed town meeting is good enough for us," said they, 
" where all within the limits of our wide-spread 
town can meet together upon a common platform, 
and exercise the high prerogative of freemen with- 
out the intervention of representatives, which is a 
measure to be resorted to only when made neces- 
sary by uncontrollable circumstances." The prop- 



SHOEMAKING IN THE OLDEN TIME. 69 

osition to accept the charter was two or three 
times rejected in exciting elections that called out 
pretty much all the voters that ever went to town 
meeting. But the project slowly won the public 
favor. As the crisis approached, Uncle Perkins 
showed a good deal of interest. " If the charter is 
accepted," said he, "I'll go to Russia." The 
charter was accepted. Eben S., an ingrained and 
irrepressible wag,, heard of Uncle Perkins' declara- 
tion, and had his eye open to current events. Soon 
after the vote of the town had decided the question, 
Eben met an acquaintance, and thus accosted 
him: "So w^e 've lost Uncle Perkins." "Lost 
him ? You do 'nt mean to say that Uncle Perkins 
is dead?" "O, no," said Eben, "he's gone to 
Russia." " Gone to Russia I What do you mean ?" 
"Why, he said he should go to Russia if the citv 
charter was accepted. It 's accepted, you know, 
and I suppose he 's gone." 

Mr. Perkins served his fellow-citizens in the 
Legislature in the session of 1832-3, and of 1843-4. 
He was as decided an anti-mason as he was a Dem- 
ocrat : and it was doubtless owing to this fact that 
he was selected to represent his fellow-citizens in 
those storm}' times. And he was no less zealous 
as a temperance man. He was tenacious of his 
opinions, and outspoken in their utterance. Though 
a strong party man, he was held in high esteem bv 
men of all parties for the sterling integrity of his 



70 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

character, and his consistent Christian life. He was 
born in Haverhill in 1787, and came to Lynn when 
he was about twenty years of age. Soon after, he 
joined the First Methodist Church, then in its in- 
fancy, and lived to see the cherished faith of his 
youth prosper and spread as no other has done in 
our midst : for long before his death, he saw within 
the territory of the town, as it stood when he came 
within its borders, seven other flourishing Methodist 
churches, united by a common bond, and working 
together to a common end. He died Januar}- 15, 
1865, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years 
and six months. 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO. 



There are many who suppose that the fashions 
of to-da}' are sillier, and in every way more ridicu- 
lous and extravagant than any that were known in 
what is called old times. It needs but a superficial 
glance at the past to show that the golden age was 
not there ; whether that age has reference to gov- 
ernments or laws, institutions or manners, fashions 
or customs, or any of the minor conditions that 
make up the warp and woof of human existence. 
To confine the view to our ancestors, let any one 
take the fashion-plates showing the costumes and 
various modes of dress that have prevailed in Eng- 
land, and in our country, during the last two or 
three hundred years, and he will see a height of 
ridiculousness and a depth of folly which the pres- 
ent age has never reached. Sometimes this folly 
showed itself in ladies' dress, sometimes in gentle- 
men's, and often in both. Fifty years ago it showed 
itself in gentlemen's dress. A dandy of that period 
was a sight to behold. Nothing in the line of rep- 
resentation short of a sterescopic view can fully set 



72 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

forth the salient points (and they were pretty much 
all salient points) of a figure dressed according to 
the standard of that day. 

So far as the English language will hold out, the 
writer will attempt a description of a suit worn 
something less than a half-century ago. To begin 
with the boots. The toe was of about the same 
width as the ball. The corners w^ere slightly 
rounded, the sole narrowing considerably for an 
inch or two, then widening again until it reached 
the full width of the bottom. This gave the toe of 
the boot a close resemblance to the snout of a shovel- 
nosed shark. It was expected that these boots 
would be made so snug as to require very strong 
straps : and before drawing them on, the heel of 
the stocking was soaped, and some pulverized soap- 
stone, or something else, was sprinkled into the 
boot to " ease it " in going on — just as the " ways '" 
are greased when a ship is to be launched. How 
long it took to get on one of these boots depended 
upon the strength of the individual owner, the 
strength of the straps, and the faithfulness with 
which the maker of the boots had obe3^ed instruc- 
tions to have a " good fit." But it is presumed that 
the " pants " were put on before the boots. 

What was called the "Suwarrow^ boot" came 
into fashion about that time. It is not surprising 
that the Russian hero in the early Napoleonic w^ars 
should give his name to a particular style of boot 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO. 73 

which he wore, or was supposed to wear. Did not 
Seleucus and Alcibiades and Iphicrates, and other 
eminent Greeks give their names to the fashionable 
shoes worn in their day ? And in modern times 
have not Wellington and Blucher, Napoleon and 
Victoria, Moliere and the Duke Alexis, done the 
same thing ? It is true, Suwarrow was a little in- 
significant looking man who did n't wash himself 
often, and when he did got somebody to throw three 
or four pails of water over his head and shoulders. 
It is true, also, that he was somewhat of a barba- 
rian : but then he was tall enough and civilized 
enough to give his name to the '' Suwarrow boot." 
And this was the kind worn by some of the young 
men fifty years ago. They w^ere called " stiff- 
backs,"' as the tops were of leather stout enough to 
hold them up in position. This leather was of 
heavv calf-skin or kip-skin. The back part came 
up nearly to the bend of the leg ; the top of the 
front was notched, and a tassel fastened at the bot- 
tom of the notch. The pantaloons fitting close to 
the legs, these boots were drawn on over them. 
Thus arrayed, a young man had a very warlike 
appearance, or rather a feudal aspect, and like 
some knight of old, seemed ready to go forth to 
vindicate his country's honor, or the fair fame of 
youth and beauty. If he needed anything to fully 
equip him it was one of the overcoats of the period 
zvith jive capes. The first of these capes seemed to 

lO 



74 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

grow out under the collar, and was five or six 
inches wide ; the second was two or three inches 
wider; the third wider still, until the last one came 
down half way over his arms. These were some- 
times — at a later period — buttoned on, so that the 
wearer, as he went out in the morning, could shed 
one of these capes as the temperature went up, and 
have a sort of sliding-scale, like the tariff of '32, or 
Peel's bill to abolish the corn laws. One of these 
coats, with its antique collars and its multitudinous 
capes, was worn until recenth^ by one of our vener- 
able citizens. 

A youth of this period was expected to be en- 
cased in a pair of close-fitting pants. How these 
pants were put on has never been explained. They 
were expected to be about as snug as the skin 
everywhere except at the bottom, this exception 
making the principal distinction between them and 
those worn by the clown at the circus. The color 
was not, perhaps, so uniformly buff as the clown's. 
If no wrinkles were found, and the vountj man 
could get along, it was pronounced a good jit. The 
vest was of the most astonishing pattern, both in 
color and figure, and no one short of a Ruskin, or 
a rainbow-painter, could give a description of this 
part of a young man's outfit. The coat — if a 
dress-coat — bore the suggestive name of "claw- 
hammer," from the supposed resemblance of the 
tails to that well-known carpenter's tool. It was 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO. 75 

made to sit snug in every part, especially in the 
sleeves. If it did n't, the tailor had made a mis- 
take. It had a velvet collar which came up some- 
where against the back part of the head. This 
coat was gfenerallv made of broadcloth, and was of 
such shade or color as suited the fancy of the 
wearer. The article worn on the head was a tall 
silk hat, the different styles of which have since 
taken the name of '' stove-pipe ; " and one of the 
styles at that time was the "sugar-loaf." It had a 
very narrow rim, but wide enough to give the 
wearer a chance to take it off. 

One sort of outside garment worn about that time 
was made of blue camlet. This was sometimes 
made into cloaks, and sometimes into overcoats. 
After these were worn a spell they would fade out 
and look like what is called " birch-bark," and be 
about as stiff. From this they took the name of 
"birch." A man going along with one of them on 
would be likely to call out the remark — " There he 
goes with his 'birch' on." These were not abso- 
lutely water-proof, but rain would strike them and 
glance off like hail from a slated roof. A few men 
encased in these " birch " coats would rustle more 
than the forest that came to meet Macbeth. 

The article, or thing, worn round the neck was 
called a "stock." The dictionaries inform us that 
this word is the same as that which designates the 
name of the instrument in which culprits used to 



76 ■ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

sit in old times. As an instrument of torture, this 
neckstock was rightly named. A man with one of 
these on had one advantage over the culprit, — he 
was not so likely to be pelted with rotten eggs. 
This stock varied from three to six inches in width, 
according to the length of the wearer's neck ; and 
it seemed to be understood that every man was to 
wear one of the utmost capacity that his neck would 
permit. It was stuffed or worked with bristles. 
This made it stiff, so that the head could not work 
round in any such absurd manner as nature in- 
tended. A man could look straight ahead, and by 
careful management he could see a little way on 
either side of him. He could black his boots before 
he put his stock on ; and as he would n't often want 
to drink at a brook, like a boy, this stock was no 
great drawback on that account. Above it, and 
about half-way between the mouth and ears, two 
points of a collar appeared. The rest of the collar 
was underneath. The surface measure of these 
points varied from half an inch to an inch square. 
They looked a good deal like a tooth-pick. Ruffled 
bosoms and ruffled wristbands completed this amaz- 
ing toilet. If an alarm of fire startled a young man 
with one of these suits on, and he was a member of 
a fire company, it is presumed he paid the fine im- 
posed for non-attendance. When he was inclosed 
in this manner, 'and had a little attar of rose on his 
handkerchief, he was as irresistible as the laws of 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO, 77 

(gravity. Description was not intended to apply to 
this class of objects. When a photograph is in- 
vented to take both sides of an object at once we 
may get an approximate idea of the original of this 
picture. 

A boy's wardrobe at this period was a study for 
an archaeologist ; not indeed for its elaborateness, 
but for its uniqueness and simplicity. If there was 
any elaborateness exhibited it was in the wonderful 
manner in which clothes were patched. Perhaps 
there is nothing that more clearly shows the change 
that has taken place in the condition of the masses 
than the patches and tattered wardrobe of a large 
part of mankind in past ages compared with that 
worn at the present day. The exemption from rags 
and patches is doubtless more marked in our own 
country than in any other ; but it is also true that all 
over the civilized world the art of patching is becom- 
ing a lost art ; and that not many decades hence 
specimens of these variegated garments, inlaid and 
overlaid with domestic mosaics, will be exhibited 
in museums as evidence of a semi-barbarous state. 
Fifty years ago, and even less, almost everybody, 
when not " dressed up," wore patched clothes. A 
woman was as much expected to do a certain 
amount of patching as she was to make bread, or 
perform any other domestic duty. A man with a 
patch on each knee attracted no more attention 
than a man sawing wood ; and if the patches were 



78 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

of a different color from the original fabric, nobodv 
stopped in the street to look at him. Clothes in 
those days were worn until they were worn out ; 
and it was not an uncommon sight to see a gar- 
ment — more especially pantaloons — so elaborately 
overlaid with patches of different shades and texture, 
that it required some discrimination to tell wiiat the 
original or foundation was, on which the successive 
layers were spread. When a pair of these panta- 
loons got to be ten or fifteen years old they weighed 
a good deal, and were not a proper dress for a sick 
person. Such a specimen would present to the 
future antiquarian at a single view a comprehensive 
idea of the various textile fabrics made in our 
country in the early part of the century, if unfortu- 
nately, all other records should be lost. 

Children's and boys' clothes were generally of 
domestic or home manufacture. When this was 
not the case they were usually made by women 
who had not spent many years in learning the 
tailor's art. Gentlemen's clothes were more com- 
monly cut by professional men tailors, and some- 
times made by them, -jespecially those that were 
kept as the " Sunday suit." Men's every-day 
clothes were often cut and made at home, but 
sometimes by women who make a specialty of this 
kind of work. These had often learned no trade, 
but " picked it up," being " handy with the needle." 
Some of these did no cutting, but made garments 



FASHIONS FIFTY VJiARS A(iO. 79 

after they had been cut by professional men tailors. 
When a coat or jacket was to be made for a boy, 
special instructions were given to the tailor to cut 
it large enough so that he would not too soon out- 
grow it. When a boy first made his debut in one 
of these garments on some pleasant Sunday morn- 
ing he presented a very much covered-up appear- 
ance. The sleeves came down pretty well over 
the hands ; but as he was not expected to eat dinner 
in an overcoat, this did not interfere with that free- 
dom of action so needful at that important meal. 
Envious boys would make invidious remarks to the 
wearer of such a coat. They would remind him 
that it svas new, and that there was a good deal of 
it. " Where did you get so much coat ? " " Is that 
vour fifrand-daddv's ?" were some of the salutations 
that fell unpleasantly on the ear of the wearer of 
one of these comprehensive and prospective gar- 
ments. If the inquirer was a little "salt" he would 
tell the boy to " take a reef in it." In order to meet 
the exigencies of future growth, large seams were 
sometimes taken in making boys' clothes. These 
seams could be " let out " as occasion required. As 
these clothes were made upon an hypothesis, full 
swing was given to the prophetic powers of the 
tailor, unlimited by "mete or bound." Whether a 
boy invested in one of these suits, which made so 
large drafts upon the future, was to be a Calvin 
Edson or a Daniel Lambert, was a problem he 



8o SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

could ponder at his leisure, aided by all the lights 
that science and experience had afforded in the 
ages past. 

Some forty odd years ago a boy had one of these 
coats made. The material was a sort of fabric not 
often seen at the present day. It was of a dark 
green color, supposed to be wool, somewhat finer 
than a blanket, and a good deal coarser than broad- 
cloth. The making of a coat like this was regard- 
ed as an epoch in a boy's life, and no small amount 
of interest centered in the case. The job was put 
into the hands of a veteran tailor who was charged, 
in the most emphatic manner, to cut it so that it 
would not interfere with the boy's future growth. 
This charge was repeated occasionally from the 
time of the first interview until the large shears de- 
cided the matter beyond recall- A wag, who knew 
the circumstances, said the whole family got meas- 
ured for this coat ; but this, no doubt, was a rhetor- 
ical embellishment. In due time the boy made his 
appearance, clad, and more than clad, in this new 
outfit. Its upper dimensions were not more than 
two or three years in advance of the boy's size ; 
but around the waist, and in that region so graphi- 
cally set forth by Shakspeare in his description of 
Falstaff, there was room and " verge " enough for 
the most aldermanic proportions. When the boy 
was about to put on this coat of the future, some 
one of the familv would remark. "Come, put on 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO. 8 1 

vour blanket." What effect this garment had in 
curing or checking dyspepsia in the neighborhood 
was never known. 

RIGHTS AND LEFTS. 

This term was used to specif}' those shoes made 
upon lasts that were supposed to bear a closer re- 
semblance to the human foot ; or which recognized 
the anatomical distinction between the right foot 
and the left. The shoes were also called "crooked," 
as an equivalent expression. Whether the term 
" crooked " was first given by some wag, whose 
conscientious regard for truth would not permit him 
to use the more common term, or whether it had a 
different origin, the writer has not been able to de- 
termine. Certain it is that if shape had anything 
to do in deciding the question the term, as often ap- 
plied, was as exact as the nature of the case would 
permit. But as the term " straight " was applied to 
shoes that were not " rights and lefts," it seems to 
have been used by way of distinction rather than 
with any reference to etymological consistency. It 
is unknown when this style was first introduced, 
but it doubtless has a high antiquity. 

It is probable that the sandal, the most ancient 

protection for the feet, was made to conform to the 

general outline of the human foot in this respect. 

While it is not unlikely that the most primitive san- 

II 



82 SKETCHES OF EYNN. 

dais worn by man, designed merely to protect the 
soles of the feet, did not observe any of the distinc- 
tions so manifest in this part of man's anatomy, it is 
evident that, as civilization advanced, and a knowl- 
edge of the arts extended, a more exact conforma- 
tion of the article worn to the shape of the foot, was 
recognized, as is seen in the various specimens that 
have been preserved. In more modern times the 
distinction of "right and left" is manifest in the va- 
rious models and engravings, as well as the anti- 
quarian relics of the shoemaker's craft found in old 
museums, and other repositories of medieval and 
ancient art. 

History informs us that Caesar Augustus, the Ro- 
man emperor, was supposed to have narrowly es- 
caped a great calamity, the risk of which he had 
incurred by the evil omen of putting the right shoe 
upon the left foot, and the left shoe upon the right 
foot ; as it was held among the Romans that to put 
the left shoe on first, or to put either shoe upon the 
wrong- foot, was each a sign of ill luck. 

Shakspeare alludes to it in a passage that has 
greatly puzzled critics who were ignorant of the 
technicalities of the shoemaker's art ; and also, per- 
haps, ignorant of the fact that this fashion, which 
prevailed in the poet's time, became obsolete some 
time after, and was not, possibly, again revived 
until a comparatively recent period. Such at least 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO. 83 

is the intimation given by Hudson in a note upon 
the following passage in Shakspeare's "King John : "' 

" Standing on slippers (which his nimble haste 
Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet.)" 

Another allusion is found in " The Two Gentle- 
men of Verona." 

But it is hardly probable that the fashion remain- 
ed obsolete for any great length of time, especially 
respecting boots and shoes for men's wear. Fash- 
ions repeat themselves at short intervals, and there 
seems to be a clear intimation in the fashion-plates 
representing the various styles of boots and shoes 
worn by men and women during the last three hun- 
dred years that the natural distinction of " right and 
left" was observed. This fashion, however, as re- 
lating to men's shoes, seems to have been for some- 
time obsolete at the beginning of the present cen- 
tury, both in England and in this country, when it 
revived. Ladies' shoes were not made in this style 
until some twenty years later. I have been in- 
formed by aii aged citizen that the first set of "right 
and left" lasts for ladies' shoes were introduced into 
Lynn in 1822 by Daniel Silsbee, of Woodend. He 
obtained them in Philadelphia, and they were made 
of persimmon wood. But these were probably not 
the first. Cyrus Houghton informs me that he had 
seen then as early as iSio or '12. 

As is well known, men's boots and shoes are' 



84 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

usually made ''rights and lefts," straight shoes being 
the exceptions, and these mostly of the coarser 
kinds, except in the few cases where they are made 
to order ; but with ladies' shoes, as made in Lynn, 
and vicinity, the rule has been the other way — a 
much larger number — even since the revival of 
the style some fifty, or more, years ago — having 
been made " straight." 

When a boy who had learned the " craft " got his 
first " set " of " right and left " lasts, it engrossed his 
whole being till the novelty wore ofi'. If this epoch 
in his life happened on Saturday, but a small por- 
tion of the next day's sermon was remembered, and 
it is doubtful if he could accurately repeat the text. 
Visions of artistic triumphs over the various difficult 
combinations of upper and sole leather filled his 
imagination, as, in his mind's eye, he saw the pro- 
duct of his genius grow up under his creative hand 
from the crudest materials, until the finishing touch 
made it fit for an occasion like that — 

" When Hebe's foot bore nectar round 
Among thfe old celestials." 

There was a degree of responsibility in making 
"rights and lefts" that was not experienced by 
workmen who had not risen to that distincton. 
This was when the uppers were cut "rights and 
lefts," as in the case of side-laced boots. The 
*' gaiter boot " — introduced some forty-five years 



FASHIONS FIFTY YEARS AGO. 85 

ago — requiring the "lace" on the inside, was some- 
times "lasted" on the wrong side, and the mistake 
was not discovered until it was too late to correct 
the blunder ; and it was necessary, as a choice of 
evils, to make up the pair with the " lace " on the 
outside. As these hybrid productions were usually 
thrown upon the workman's hands, who paid the 
cost of stock, his only hope was to sell them at a 
reduced price to some peddler who carried them to 
a remote market where the despot of fashion held 
less absolute sway. 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. 



The order system, as it existed in Lynn a gener- 
ation ago, or more, was an outgrowth, and im- 
provement upon, the barter svstem which every- 
where prevails in an undeveloped state of society. 
A history of the changes that have taken place in 
this particular during the last fifty years could be 
summarized in a very brief statement ; but a history 
of the causes of these changes would not only re- 
quire a chapter upon political economy — a chapter 
usually without interest to the general reader — 
but a treatise lono- enouijh to contain the record of 
the progress of society during the most important 
half century of the world's history. The order sys- 
tem was but a rude attempt to supply a better me- 
dium of exchange. Like all crude methods it was 
costly ; and especially costh' to the operative who 
received his wages in these uncertain substitutes 
for more scientific money. In the last days of its 
existence this system was unsparingly denounced 
by labor reformers, and unstinted obloquy was cast 
upon those who were supposed to have an interest 



'I'liK ORDKR svs'ri:M. 87 

in maintaining and perpetuating it. In its last 
davs it was an abuse because better things were 
possible : but when it was established it was better 
than the system that preceded it. Its establish- 
ment and overthrow onh- show the progress of 
society that avails itself of new methods, when old 
ones have shown themselves to be clumsy and in- 
efficient, as compared with the better agencies which 
more favorable conditions have made possible. 

The order system, if we use the term with any 
degree of strictness, cannot be made to extend be- 
yond the limits of a period dating from the estab- 
lishment of the Union Store in 1829, and including 
the next fifteen or twenty years. Orders were in 
use to a greater or less extent for a quarter of a 
century, more or less, prior to this date, and their 
use, doubtless, extended with the growth of busi- 
ness, and the increase of population : but the amount 
received by workmen in these orders was small 
when compared with the whole amount of their 
wages. Orders were given chiefly for the purchase 
of dry goods. As early as 1810 (and probabh' 
earlier) some of the manufacturers gave orders on 
Joel and Isaac Newhall, of Salem, who kept a large 
stock of foreion and domestic goods. This firm was 
usually abbreviated into "Joel and Isaac." Some 
" bosses " paid their binders exclusively in orders 
on dry goods stores. But at this early period pay- 
ment in orders was rather the exception than the 



05 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

rule. Before the more general introduction of the 
order system, manufacturers kept a supply of goods 
of various kinds which workmen received in pay 
for their labor. The larger "boss " could command 
a greater variety of commodities, and was thus en- 
abled to give his workmen a choice and range in 
his purchases, which the manufacturer of smaller 
means was not able to offer. Under such a system 
the workman must content himself with what he 
could get for his labor ; and oftentimes this was 
very meager in variety and exorbitant in price. 
The workman of the present generation has little 
idea of the nature and value of that which was re- 
ceived as the wages of labor by the shoemaker 
fifty years ago. Under the old system, when he 
bartered his labor for whatever commodities the 
small manufacturer was able to get in exchange for 
his shoes, he was often compelled to subsist upon 
the barest necessaries of life. If he could get more 
of these than were absolutely required to save his 
children from hunger, and clothe them in the 
cheapest and most scant}^ manner, he was, per- 
haps, able by some roundabout exchange, to pro- 
cure a few of what are now the common comforts 
of life — to get a little medicine for his family, and 
by a sacrifice of twenty-five per cent, get monev 
enough to pay his poll tax. Under these circum- 
stances, it is easy to see that life was a struggle, 
with little hope that that struggle would be less 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. 89 

severe as coming years brought increased responsi- 
bilities, and with these added responsibilities the 
loss of youthful vigor. 

The small stock of supplies kept on hand by the 
manufacturers before the order system prevailed 
was intended to include the common necessaries of 
life — both food and clothing, or rather material 
for clothing — the day of ready-made clothing, ex- 
cept on a limited scale, not having then arrived. 
The qualitv of these goods, though often the best 
that could be got, was generally inferior, and the 
prices charged were some twenty-five to thirty per 
cent, more than were asked when payments were 
made in cash. No very exact data are obtainable 
showing the wages earned at that time — say the 
period between 1820 and 1830 — but from figures 
referring to a somewhat later date, a very close ap- 
proximation can be made. The average rate ot 
wages between the dates here given was probably 
less than five dollars a week. These dollars being 
worth about sevent}' cents in cash, the weekly 
wages of each workman were not more than three 
dollars and fifty cents. But the price of most com- 
modities was very low, and the purchasing power 
of money some thirty per cent, greater than during 
the ten years ending 1840. 

The introduction of the order system was an im- 
provement in two particulars. It brought within 
reach of the workmen a much greater variety of 
12 



90 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



goods he would like to buy, so far as his means 
would permit, and by making competition more di- 
rect, reduced the cost of these commodities nearer 
to a cash standard. Some of these order stores 
were quite extensive, and kept a large variety of 
goods of every description — groceries, provisions, 
boots, shoes, hats, hardware and crockery, besides 
a large assortment of dry goods. 

THE UNION STORE. 

The Union Store was one of the best of this class. 
It may interest some to know that this store stood 
near the spot now occupied by the apothecary shop 
of S. C. Tozzer & Co., Broad street, and was built 
in 1810. It was first used as a Quaker school- 
house. It now stands on Exchange street, and is 
used as. the leather store of the firm of Breed & 
Hilliker. This store was established in the spring 
of 1829, and it was first advertised under the head 
of "New Store " in the Lynn Mirror of May 30th. 
To this advertisement were appended the names of 
James Pratt, Nathan Breed and Isaiah Breed. The 
public were notified that William F. Ingalls was 
placed in charge of the store as agent. Micajah C. 
Pratt, if not one of the founders, became one of the 
proprietors soon after. Its business increased very 
fast, until its sales reached the amount of sixty thou- 
sand dollars in a single year — a large business for 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. 9I 

Lvnn in those days. James Pratt held his connec- 
tion with the Union Store but a short time, and the 
late Samuel Boyce became one of the proprietors. 
The opening of this store relieved the proprietors 
from the necessity of keeping goods at their factories 
with which to supply their workmen. At first 
orders were taken from the proprietors only : goods 
being sold to the public generally for cash or ap- 
proved credit. Afterwards orders were taken from 
an}' manufacturer whose credit stood high enough 
to command the confidence of the owners of the 
store. The orders of the Union Store were the 
next best thing to cash, and were current to a o-reat 
degree throughout the town. Some of the apothe- 
caries received them, and the doctor and others, 
whose bills were expected to be settled in cash, 
would often take these orders, especially when the 
alternative was this kind of pay or none. These 
orders were printed, with blanks for amount, date, 
etc., and signed by the manufacturer, or his clerk. 
Thev read as follows : — " Please deliver to the bearer 
goods to the amount of ." 



The order system was at its height between the 
years 1830 and 1840. A few manufacturers paid 
cash. All through these years, and even earlier, 
certain " bosses " attracted the attention of work- 
men by advertising to pay cash. The prices were, 
of course, lower than when orders were given. 
When a workman was able to show his mone\' 



92 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

after carrying in his shoes on a Saturday after- 
noon, he was the envy of the shop's crew ; and if it 
was a kind of money that would "jingle " it raised 
its possessor above his fellow-craftsmen. But he 
was an object of special admiration and astonish- 
ment to the boys, who regarded him as occupying 
an eminence, and who looked up to him as a miti- 
gated Rothschild. Such is the power of coin — or 
rather such was the powder of coin. It must be re- 
membered that these were the days just betbre '' pet 
banks " had made paper money plenty — before 
""Old Bullion" had promished his "mint drops," 
and charitably hoped that these would find their 
w^ay into the pockets of the people, as Henry the 
Fourth of France had benevolently wished that 
every peasant in his kingdom might have a chicken 
to put in his dinner pot. 

It was generally understood that not much work 
was to be done on Saturday afternoon. That was 
the time to carry in the "work" — as the phrase 
was — to the bosses, to get a new lot, to draw the 
order on the Union Store — or some other store — 
to lay in provision for the next week, so far as the 
order would go, and to bring home the "shoes and 
stutis," as the upper and bottom stock was called, 
and also the load of supplies, (.often a small load,) 
which was to support the family until Saturday 
came round again. This load was generall}' taken 
home in a " truckle-cart " or a wheelbarrow ; or, if 



thp: order system. 93 

snow covered the ground, on a sled or a hand 
"pung." These "carts," so called, contrary to all 
authority, tor the most part had four solid wheels, 
and these wheels were not always made at the 
whcelwrio-ht's. On the contrar\-, they were often 
'' hacked out " at home with a dull hatchet, and de- 
scribed a figure not named in any treatise on geom- 
etry from Euclid to the present day. Some of these 
were nearly round. The eccentricity was very 
much greater than the concentricity, and as they 
went " wabbling " along, the hind wheels did not 
ahvays follow the direct line of the fore w^heels. In 
this respect they were unlike a Newport buggy. 
Besides these " truckle-carts " there was a sort of 
"go-cart" with two wheels — the largest number a 
cart can have, at least so the dictionaries tell us — 
having a " pole " or handle fastened to the axle- 
tree, while at the other end, more loosely joined, 
was seen a man or boy pushing, when it w^as neces- 
sary to put these carts in modon. As their center 
of gravity was somewhere directly in iront of the 
wheels, or more sti-ictly the axletree, it was rather 
a nice job to load one of them so as to equalize the 
burden, and guard against a catastrophe. If loaded 
too heavily behind, and the man or boy at the end 
of the "pole" suddenly lets go his hold, the load 
was "dumped," and flour, meal, pork, molasses, 
butter, vinegar, sugar, etc., were prematurely and 
disproportionately mixed. On either side of the 



94 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

front steps, and on each side of the building, were 
arranged these miscellaneous and nondescript ve- 
hicles. The miller's rule was observed — first come, 
first served, — at least this was the theory ; for some- 
times this theory was rendered nullhy a smart boy, 
who, in the crowd of competitors claiming the at- 
tention of the clerks of the store — or "tenders," as 
they were called — would elbow a more youthful 
or less smart boy aside, and if necessary shake his 
fist at him. i\s posterity ma}- be interested in 
knowing the average contents of one of these 
" teams," the following list is given with posterity in 
view : — Fourteen pounds of flour, half a peck of 
rye meal, (six and one-quarter pounds,) half a peck 
of Indian meal, a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, 
a quart of molasses, a quarter of a pound of tea, a 
pound of coffee, a pound of salt pork, a quart of 
white beans, a salt fish, and occasionally a small 
quantit}' of several minor articles. If the purchaser 
was in straitened circumstances — and there were 
a good many of that kind — several of the most 
luxurious articles of this list must be struck out, and 
the quantity of each article remaining divided by 
two. These carts, wheelbarrows, sleds, pungs, 
etc., were distributed all over town in front of the 
" bosses' " shops where they took in the " stock " for 
the next week's work, and got the " order " for the 
cartload of provisions, more or less. If the order 
was not all taken up at the store, the amount ex- 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. 95 

pended was charged upon the back, and the balance 
due taken at another time. 

It may be well to mention that the week's " work " 
was often carried in with a good deal of trepidation 
and not a little misgiving. Especially was this the 
case with the poor workman, who made what was 
called a " howler ; " and it may also be well to 
mention in parenthesis that the names given to some 
of these not very artistic specimens of the " craft '' 
were unique and expressive. They were called 
regular '' guzzlers," or "howlers," or "slaps," and 
were never selected to " put on the top of the box," 
and the makers of such were never employed to 
make a sample pair for a Mechanic's Fair. When 
these workmen entered the bosses' shops it was 
with fear and trembling. They expected that every 
lot would be their last. Perhaps news had arrived 
from the South (there was no West then) that the 
cotton crop was coming short, or that some great 
failure had occurred. Then there was a general 
expectation that they would "get the sack," or 
■' be turned off," which meant that their labor was no 
longer needed. To men never rising above poverty, 
and standing always on the brink of want, these 
tidings brought deprivation and suffering before 
their face ; but if no such tidings came, and espec- 
iall}' if the boss gave notice to " hurry up," and 
gave them a new^ set of lasts, then they took their 
order and marched off to the Union Store with a 



96 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

lighter step than many a man who does n't know 
where to invest his money ; and when at last he 
reached home, the news and the new lasts spread 
joy throvigh a whole neighborhood. 

But it must not be supposed that all the shoes 
made were ^' carried in " to the bosses' shops in 
carts, wheelbarrows, or in any one-wheeled, two- 
wheeled, or four-wheeled conveyance. Besides all 
these, many men and boys of all sizes and ages 
micrht have been seen with a "string" of shoes in 
each hand that firmly adhered to the " waxed-end '" 
that tied each pair together. If a shower came up 
at this juncture, there was generally a chance to 
" dodge " into some house or shop by the wa3'side. 
Others were seen with one or more cotton bandanna 
handkerchiefs full of shoes placed " heels to toes," 
according to the rule of packing. Still others were 
seen with baskets oi' different descriptions, varying 
in size from one holding a peck, which could be 
conveniently taken in one hand, to the bushel basket 
requiring one on either side to carry it, when packed 
with shoes. Occasionally a cloihes-hasket was made 
to do this service on a Saturday afternoon. The 
baskets were all used for domestic purposes at other 
times, the art of basket-making not yet having tried 
its ingenuity in making the "shoe-basket" proper, 
which, at a later day, superseded all other methods 
of conveying to the bosses' shops the products of 
the workmen's labor. 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. 97 

There were lively times at the I'nion Store on 
those Saturday afternoons. Four or live "tenders" 
were bus}- in ditTerent parts of the establishment, 
doing their best to answer the numerous and some- 
what confusing calls of their promiscuous patrons, 
who ranged all the wa\' from the boy of six, who 
pushed behind the cart, up to the old man of eighty. 
One of the clerks would be at the dry goods' counter ; 
another in the second story managing the sales of 
Crocker}-, and men's and boys' boots and shoes: 
another would have his head half way into a pork 
barrel, tr34ng to hook up a piece of pork to suit a 
fastidious customer ; another, perhaps, would be 
leading a bo}' out by the ear from behind a counter, 
where he had strayed to try the quality of a few 
raisins, and look knowing, as he had seen the men 
do. This state of things was kept up all through 
the afternoon and evening, and if those in charge 
of the store- were able to lock up at eleven o'clock 
the}' thought themselves lucky. 

Somedmes an accident or episode would occur 
to some one of these several " teams '' on the way 
home. Perhaps the roads were "heavy," and a 
wheel would get twisted off. Then the disabled 
team would be hauled up to one side of the road 
for repairs, and a messenger would be sent to the 
nearest shoemaker's shop for a supply of " waxed- 
ends " to make good the damage. Perhaps one of 
the carts, with a specially unique structure, would 
13 



98 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

be met b}- a boy who would make some disparag- 
ing remarks concerning the general style of the ve- 
hicle, the size and running of the wheels, etc., and 
close his observations with the irrelevant inquiry 
whether the top was not an old soap box. This 
would be considered beyond hoy human endurance, 
and the urchin having charge of the team would 
start for the offender (having tirst run him over with 
his eye, and taken his dimensions) to "fetch him a 
crack." If this was done successfully, he would 
again start for hom^ : and if he lived in the eastern 
section of the town, he would hear, after reaching a 
distance making the experiment a safe one, a sound 
breaking the stillness of the air which seemed to 
intimate that he wdth the " soap-box cart " was a 
" Woodender." Then a rejoinder would be hurled 
back to the effect that if any other " Puddin'-hiller '" 
wanted anything, to come on. 

For the sake of clearness it may be well to state 
that the " Puddin'-hill " of old times included the 
territory lying near the upper or eastern end of 
Broad street, and between that part of the street 
and the sea. hx. that time Nahant street was the 
only street in that entire territory lying east and 
south-east of what are now Broad and Lewis streets. 

The arrival of these "' teams " at home w^ould give 
rise to many inquiries and interesting debates. 
"What did the boss say to 'em, Joe ?" " He said 
you must sew 'em shorter — they 'grinned.'" "That 



THE ORDER SYSTEM, 



99 



all he said ? '' "Old T. stuck his thumb into the 
bottom of one of 'em, and said it wasn't worth two 
cents." "Well, he got hold of the last one I made ; 
it was n't quite ' baked.' and it had a soft sole." 
" Did you get any money of your boss, Jim ? " " He 
let me have two dollars, and told me I could n't 
have any more till after Thanksgiving. He said I 
must n't expect mone}' in ' Locofoco ' times." (This 
term originated about this time, 1834.) "Well, 
that 's more than I expected to get. What kind of 
stock have you got ? Has -he given vou a lot more 
of that ' dry hide ? ' '" " Dry hide " was the special 
abomination of the shoemaker. These hides came 
from a distance — largely from California and South 
America — and were necessarily dried belbre tan- 
ning. This gave the leather a stiff', wir}- texture, 
quite in contrast with the soft, pliable " slaughter 
leather," so called because it was tanned soon after 
it was taken from the animal. After looking over 
the stock, the " shop-tub " was shifted, and that part 
of the stock required for immediate use was " wet 
up " so that it might get " seasoned " by Monday 
morning. Then, if there was time, the knives must 
be "ground." All workmen were not equallv par- 
ticular about this matter. Some " ground " their 
knives regularly every Saturday, afternoon, or 
oftener. Others would use them until they became 
so "round" at the edge as to be a subject of com- 
ment through the neighborhood. Uncle B. was 



lOO SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

one of this sort. On one occasion a wag thought 
he would try an experiment with one of Uncle B.'s 
knives. Taking, without Uncle B.'s knowledge, 
his skiver, which the owner was obliged to hold at 
an angle of forty-five degrees when he attempted to 
" gnaw off" a little in skiving a sole — so round was 
the edge — the wag ground it down thin, whet it to 
a keen, smooth edge, and carefully put it back in 
the "rack" with the rest of the knives. When the 
time arrived to use it, Uncle took it, set it at the 
accustomed angle on the sole, and made the usual 
vigorous push. The sole was in two pieces, each 
having a "" feather edge." Uncle B. found that 
playing with edge tools was costly if not dar^erous. 
The grinding of knives — on a Saturday after- 
noon especially — was a job that no boy ever pined 
for, as his part was to "turn the stone." Kepler 
might indulge his fine theories about the " music of 
the spheres," as he fancied the nearer planets played 
the high notes, while the most distant sounded the 
grand bass in nature's majestic symphony ; but no 
boy's eye was set " rolling in fine frenz}- " as he 
viewed the revolutions of the grindstone ; and all its 
" poetry of motion " was lost upon his gross and 
materialistic mind. His eve rolled, but it was not 
because he was entranced with the " concord of 
sweet sounds," nor because the revolving grindstone 
overwhelmed him with the contemplation of the 
mysterious law of gravity : it rolled because his 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. lOI 

back ached. Any quarry slave, any galley slave, 
any bondman, whether "hereditary,'" or otherwise, 
was a king on a throne compared to the unfortu- 
nate victim bound to such miserable toil on a Satur- 
day afternoon ; while the shouts of the distant ball- 
players, mingled with the creakings of the grind- 
stone, fell like torturing music on his sensitive ear. 
The theory was, that Saturday afternoon was a 
sort of half holiday for the boys. Hard masters 
and stern fathers often nullified this theory, and 
kept their boys at work, while more favored ones 
were enjoying the freedom of the streets or the play- 
ground. To these boys at work the shoutings and 
hootings of their companions, as they shot across 
the skating pond, or bounced over the "jolts " down 
the steep hill on a home-made sled shod with sheet- 
iron, or played at ball in a neighboring field, 
caused a feeling nearly akin to homesickness ; and 
they would have been utterly cast down had they 
not been cheered by the hope that the " stint " would 
soon be done, and they would soon be able to join 
the youthful revelers, and add their yells to swell 
the discordant chorus. "One more, and then," 
was all that saved them from despair. A " stint " 
(commonly called a "stent") was usually given to 
boys. This was a certain number of pairs to be 
" sewed,". or made, as the case might be ; and w^hen 
this task was done the time was their own. This 
was often a temptation for early rising, so that the 



I02 SKETCHES OF LYNX. 

day's work might be finished in season tor anv sport 
that was at hand. 

The following- anecdote shows that inducements 
of a more refined and ethereal nature w^ere some- 
times held out as a temptation to break the bands of 
Morpheus : — A Qiiaker — it may be presumed of 
a poetical temperament — was said to have given 
his son the following glowing invitation to resume 
the active duties of the day — "Arise, John Henr}- ! 
the sun is gilding the eastern horizon with sapphire 
and gold." One can imagine a boy taking a purely 
esthetic view of the case, and jumping right out of 
bed. 

The prevalence of the order system some forty 
years ago showed itself in various ways. Not only 
shoemakers took orders for their work, but profes- 
sional men also for their services. Pew taxes were 
paid in orders by those who could not command the 
cash. As a matter of necessity the minister took his 
pay in the same currency. An elderly citizen re- 
members to have seen one of our clergymen, with his 
little " cart," drawing home his small load of the 
necessaries of life from the Union Store. This was 
no uncommon occurrence ; and the sentiment of 
time is shown by the following circumstance, which 
happened a few years later : — A dignified clergy- 
man called at a store to purchase a small amount 
of a single article, and requested that it be sent to 
his house. (A few of the stores had just then be- 



'IHK ORDER SYSTEM. IO3 

gun to deliver the more bulky goods.) This was 
commented upon w herever it was known as an evi- 
dence of aristocratic tendenc}' that would destroy 
democratic simplicity. One can imagine, by a 
little stretch of the fancy, some of our professional 
men drawing a " little cart," or any other cart, 
through Broad or Market street loaded with gro- 
ceries. But times change, and men are changed 
with them. This sage observation, made by some 
old Roman, is usually put in Latin, but as English 
is quite common now. most people will understand 
it readilv enoucrh in that less classical tonoue. 

As already intimated, the order system was the 
outgrowth of cruder and more clumsy methods of 
exchange. It was the time of long credits — the 
bane of all commercial prosperity, and no less of 
individual thrift, to be justified only by the sternest 
necessity. Shoes were sold on six and nine months : 
and it was sometimes a year before the manufac- 
turer got his returns. Almost all sorts of traders' 
bills were allowed to run a 3ear ; and especially 
was this the case when their trade was mutual. 
Accordingh' the annual settlement was a great 
event. This usually took place on New- Year's 
da}'. The boss carpenter, or the boss painter — 
there were but few such in those days — would 
have a running account with the grocer and farmer, 
and there was an excellent chance for a wrangle 
over disputed charges, as item after item was ex- 



104 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

amined which memory could not recall. Some- 
times the larger part of a day was consumed in 
these annual settlements in ineffectual attempts to 
adjust differences ; and the setting sun would see 
no prospect of clearing up the difficulties. Then 
the whole matter, or the part unsettled, would be 
put off to a future time, or to another New Year's 
day, when, possibly, a more favorable state of the 
weather, or a more healthy condition of the liver, 
or some other favoring circumstances, would im- 
prove the chances of a settlement. But if no dis- 
pute arose, the accounts would be balanced, the 
larger debtor paying the difference in cash, or pos- 
sibly, in an order ; and when neither of these 
methods were practicable, settlement would be 
made by a note running three or six months. But, 
whether settled one way or another, a good " swig " 
of " black-strap "' or '' New England " was generally 
taken to smooth off the corners, and put things on 
a harmonious footincr for the time to come. 

THE mechanics' STORE. 

The original proprietors were James Pratt, Dan- 
iel Farrington and Amos Mower — Mr. Pratt hav- 
ing then recentl}^ withdrawn from the manage- 
ment of the Union Store — and G. W. Mudge was 
appointed agent. The Mechanics' Store continued 
under this management for five or six years, and 



THE ORDER SYSTEINI. lO^ 

did a larcre business. Mr. Mudcre havino-, at that 
early day, acquired a high reputation as a sales- 
man. At the end of this time Mr. Mudge bought 
out the stock, and was sole proprietor for nine 
months, at the end of which time he took as part- 
ner Isaiah Nichols, and the business was continued 
under the firm of Mudge & Nichols. Tliis firm 
kept a large stock, and a great variety of goods, 
and their business was one of the largest in the 
town at that time. This store at first stood a few 
rods westward of the present manufactory of Henry 
M. Hacker, on Broad street. It was afterwards 
removed to the corner of Green and Broad streets — 
the store now occupied by J. W. Carswell. 

The following is the list of slioe manufacturers 
doing business in Lynn in 1829 : — 

John D. Attwill. Aaron Bacheklcr. 

Nelson R. Attwill. Theophilus Burrill. 

Jesse L. Attwill, Joseph B. Breed, 

Nathaniel Alle\ . Ebcnezer Brown. 

Manuel Austin, John Burrill. 

Joseph Alley, Alanson Burrill, 

Amos Burrill. Daniel Breed, 

Jonathan Bo^xe & Son, Charles Chase, 
Isaac Bassett, Jr., & Son. Nathan D. Chase. 

Samuel Brimblecomb. Daniel Chase. 

Samuel Bacheller, 3cl. Jacob Chase, Jr., 

Samuel Bacheller, Jr.. Samuel Collins. 

Thomas Bowler, J<'hn B. Chase. 

Joseph Breed, 3d, Hus^h Davis. 
"14 



io6 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



Joseph M. Fuller, 
Daniel Farrington, 
Abel Houghton, 
Theophilus Hallowell. 
David Hawkes, 
Cyi'us Houghton, 
Aug. Blaney Ingalls, 
Jacob Ingalls, 
Williams Ingalls, 
Samuel J. Ireson, 
Nathaniel Ireson, 
George Johnson, 
Francis Johnson. 
Humphrey S. Johnson, 
John Knights, 
R. Warren Lindsey, 
James Lakeman, 
Amos Mower, 
E. M. Mansfield, 



Nathan Mudge, 
Daniel L. Mudge, 
Josiah Newhall, 
Paul Newhall, 
Stephen Oliver, 
Rufus Parrott, 
William Parrott, 
James Pratt, 
Micajah C. Pratt, 
John Pratt, 
Thomas Raddin, 
Sewall Raddin. 
George W^. Raddin. 
Christopher Robinson, 
Daniel Silsbee, 
Samuel Spinney, 
David Taylor, 
[onathan Watson. 



WOODENl) FIFTY YEARS AGO. 

A half-century ago and the Village House — since 
transformed into a dwelling house — stood where it 
now stands, at the corner of Essex and Fayette 
streets, the most imposing building on Village 
Square. The stream of travel flowing from the 
towns lying at the north and east, and directed to 
the eastern section of the town, entered Lynn by 
way of Essex street, to Village Square, where a 
portion of it, at least, stopped. A good many teams 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. IO7 

watered their horses at the old pump still standing- 
in the center of the square, unless, what is quite 
probable, a pump of more modern workmanship 
tills the same place. The drivers of the teams 
were not so likely to drink there as the horses were. 
Water was then regarded, as now, a good drink for 
a horse. But there was a popular idea at that time 
that water, pure and simple, was a dangerous drink 
for man, and so the drivers, having due regard for 
their health, often stepped into the Village House 
to find a safer beverage. As the Village House 
was a tavern, it is not surprising that entertaiment 
for man and beast could be found there. Enter- 
tainment included refreshment, refreshment in- 
cluded all the various kinds of drink, ranging all 
the wa}' from common and cheap New England 
rum up to the less common and more expensive 
brandy, a catalogue embracing anise seed and 
snake-root cordial, West India rum, gin, and wine 
of different kinds. West India rum usualh' meant 
Jamaica, as from that island w^e then got our chief 
supply of that important article of commerce. This 
was before England abolished slavery in her colo- 
nies, when the importation very largely dropped 
oft' : the emancipated negroes feeling no special 
interest in maintaining the commercial renown of 
Great Britain. But it probably did n't make much 
difference in the amount of "Jamaica "' that could be 
supplied, as that "brand" could be manufactured 



I08 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

from an inferior liquor in quantities to meet any 
reasonable demand. If this adulteration was well 
done, an old toper who had " tipped his elbow " a 
good many times, could n't tell it from the genuine 
article. But the regular "Jamaica" stood way 
ahead of all other kinds of rum, even of rum made 
in the other West India islands. It had a peculiar 
color, flavor and consistency, that gave it a high 
repute. As its price was about twice as high as 
common " New England," it was used on special 
occasions when it was desirable to emphasize some 
important event, such as birthdays, weddings, 
Fourths of July, and whenever one felt rich enough 
to indulge in the luxury. 

But this matter of Jamaica rum, in particular, or 
" refreshment," in general, has only an incidental 
relation to the teams we letl: standing at the town 
pump ; though the relation of the drivo's of the 
teams to "Jamaica," or some other kind of rum, 
was a little too close and regular to be considered 
incidental. Some were bound to Ireson & Ingalls', 
whose large store on Olive street was visited by- 
customers far and near. This firm did an extensive 
business, and bought in large quantities, for those 
times. They supplied many of the smaller stores, 
especially with flour, meal, and grain. Marvelous 
to the ears of boys were the stories told of the 
cargoes of corn and molasses bought by these great 
dealers. Thev sold mostlv for cash. Men who 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. IO9 

had been accustomed to take orders pretty much 
all their lives were astonished when they heard 
how cheap goods could be bought at Ben. Ireson's. 
As there were but few cash stores at that time, the 
small number who received cash for their work, 
came — some of them a long distance — to avail 
themselves of the low prices at which many things 
were sold at the noted store on Olive street. Mr. 
Ireson was a very hard-working, prudent business 
man. Like most men of his time, he had few early 
advantages, but he had a clear head and natural 
sagacity that served in good stead the lack of school 
training. A prominent lawyer of our city, whom 
Mr. Ireson was in the habit of consulting upon 
business matters, remarked that it was wonderful 
to observe with what clearness he saw through the 
complications of a difficult case, and how exactly 
he could state the points he wished to set forth. 
He usually had a pleasant word for the boys. He 
had the peculiarity of indulging in a little quiet 
humor by calling some of these bo3's by a brother's 
or a father's name ; especially if such boys were 
somewhat particular in maintaining their identity. 
"Well, John," he would say, as one of these came 
into the store, perhaps for the fiftieth time, "what's 
wanted this morning ? " '' My name ain't John ; 
my brother's name is John." '' O yes, so it is ; I 
was thinking your name was John." In the after- 
noon perhaps John would have occasion to go to 



no SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

the Store. "Well, Richard, how's your father to- 
day ? " " My name ain't Richard ; my brother's 
name is Richard." "O, so it is ; I get your names 
mixed up." The next morning, when another 
brother entered the store, the same process would 
be repeated, varied, perhaps, by calling the boy by 
his father's name. An anecdote is told of his deal- 
ing with a couple of boys w4io, like most boys, liked 
imported fruit. A large load of goods had just 
been brought from Boston, and stood in the yard 
near the store. Several casks of raisins made part 
■of this load, (cask raisins being pretty much the 
only kind used in those days, except by the very 
pink of the aristocracy,) and these boys were made 
acquainted with that — to them — tremendous fact. 
It was evening, and the shades of night had gath- 
ered just enough to reduce the hazard of a raid upon 
the contents of these casks to a point which the boys 
were willing to risk. Accordingly they mounted 
the wagon, and in due time got a look at the inside 
of these casks. It is not related whether the boys' 
trowsers (they did n't wear pantaloons in those 
times) were provided with the indispensable appen- 
dages to boys" trowsers — pockets. If so, they were 
ignored as wholly inadequate to meet the magni- 
tude of the occasion. Tying a string around the 
bottom of each leg of each pair of trowsers, the 
boys proceeded to "load up." As boys' trowsers 
were not then cut ''snug to the leg." there was 



THE ORDIiR SYSTEM. Ill 

room to stow away a good deal of foreign fruit. In 
the mean time Mr. Ireson had been apprised that 
some unauthorized persons were unloading his 
wagon. The boys, not knowing that their pro- 
ceedings had been reported, kept quietly at work. 
The proprietor went out in a quiet manner to look 
at them. After I'ully taking in the situation, he 
seemed to appreciate the enterprise of the boys, 
and was, possibly, struck with the ludicrousness of 
the scene. "Now, boys," said he, "if you've got 
as many raisins as you want, you start!" The 
boys did start, not needing a second suggestion ; 
but not with that alacrity that would have been seen 
if they had been dressed more like a circus rider. 
They looked like some of the pictures seen in a 
comic almanac. 

Mr. Ireson accumulated a large fortune, doing 
business at the same stand, as one of the firm, until 
the death of his partner in 1848. Mr. Ireson con- 
tinued in business but a short time after. He died 
in 1873, aged seventy-tour years. 

But there were several other places where the 
teams that we saw halting at the old town pump 
might stop. The following shoe manufacturers 
then did business in Woodend : — John D. Attwill — 
known as Major — then did business on Orange 
street, now the northwest end of Fayette street, 
which then terminated at Village Square : Ebenezer 
Bro\\n, on North street, now the northwest end of 



112 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Chestnut street, which then terminated at Essex 
street, James F. Lewis, also on North street, Na- 
than Mudge, on Fayette street, Rufus Parrott, on 
Essex street, William Parrott, on Fayette street. 
Besides these there were several who manufactured 
shoes earlier than 1830, and who gave up business 
about that date — some of them a little earlier and 
some a little later. Micajah Burrill was one of 
these. His place of business was on Essex street, 
in the house now occupied by J. Ruth. Jacob and 
John Ingalls also did business on Fayette street, 
now the corner of Parrott and Fayette streets. 
William F. Ingalls manufactured shoes on Orange 
street for several years, till near the time he took 
charge of the Union Store in 1829. Williams In- 
galls manufactured near the corner of Chestnut — 
then North — street and Franklin Place ; and Tim- 
othy Alley and Samuel Collins carried on busi- 
ness within a few rods of the same place on oppo- 
site sides of Chestnut street. Jesse L. Attwill also 
did business on Chestnut street. Daniel Silsbee 
also did business in the building in the rear of the 
house now owned by James Hill, by the side of the 
Village House ; and Jonathan Watson manufac- 
tured in the store at the corner of Essex and Orange 
streets, opposite the west side of the Village House. 
Some of these bosses hired workmen from Marble- 
head, and possibly from other neighboring towns. 
Some of the teams, after leaving the town pump. 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. II3 

would call at some of the bosses' shops on an errand. 
There were very few express teams in those days ; 
and their lack w^as, in part, supplied in a miscella- 
neous w^a}' by neighbors or friends who might have 
occasion to visit any of the several towns lying near 
their own places of residence. Accordingl}^ one 
might hear, on entering one of these bosses' shops, 
a messenger from Marblehead, Salem or Beverly 
— more especially from Marblehead — salute the 
boss as follows : Mr. Attwill, Tom Gille}' wants a 
half-dozen pair of bottom-linings ; he says you 
didn't give him enough. He says he 'come' one 
sole short, too, — a six's." This errand being done, 
he would, perhaps, go to another shop with a simi- 
lar errand. " Mr. Parrott, John Crafts wants an- 
other ball of thread ; he says you did n't give him 
enough last time he was over." If the boss was a 
little facetious he might ask the messenger if that 
thread w^as strong enough for a kite-string or a 
"nipper" line, or if the workman couldn't use 
some he had "left over." When a workman had 
more " stock " given out to him than was needed to 
make the lot of shoes, he was said to have so much 
" over," and it w^as thought by many that, by a sort 
of imprescriptible right, this stock that was " over " 
belonged to the "jour." 

There seemed to be no intentional dishonest^' in 
this, but a somewhat unaccountable obliquity of 
moral vision that obscured the distinction between 
15 



114 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

incuiii and iiiton. In illustration of this, the follow- 
ing circumstance is told : A man in a neighbor- 
ing town — and a very good sort of man, too — 
kept a "finding" store — that is, he kept shoe- 
makers' tools of various kinds, including, also, 
shoe thread, and similar commodities. A friend 
calling in one day, observed that he had a large 
assortment of shoe thread of different colors, and 
inquired where he got such a variety. "Oh, I 
bought it of the boys." " But where did the bovs get 
it ?" "They had^t ^>rr;'.' ■' 

There were, also, several grocery stores in Wood- 
end at that time, where all the usual refresh ing 
commodities of a liquid nature were kept. Many 
had no difficulty in tinding these stores on the 
darkest nights ; and there were no street lamps 
then, either. One of these stores was on Fayette 
street, next to the Village House, the building al- 
ready mentioned as occupied at an earlier date by 
Daniel Silsbee as a shoe factory. The lower story 
was used for the grocery department, and the base- 
ment — or more properly the cellar, as but little of 
it w^as above ground, — was devoted to the sale of 
the several sorts of ardent spirits — as the stronger 
kinds were then generally called — and those that 
were not so ardent^ such as wine, strong beer, cider, 
anise seed and snake root cordials. Lager beer 
was then unknown in this part of the country, and 
but little known in any part of the country, as the 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. II5 

German population was then quite small. The im- 
migration from Germany, which reached such high 
figures between 1850 and i860, had then scarcely 
begun. Ale was then hardly known in this section 
of the country, though at the present time it would 
take a boy the whole of a long vacation to count 
the number of barrels sold in a single year. 

This was during Jackson's second administration. 
" Old Hickory," as he was called, when he was not 
familiarly st^-led " Old Jackson," found some very 
hearty supporters in these favorite resorts. When 
warmed up with a little old ''Jamaica," or a glass 
or two of one of the popular brands of "New Eng- 
land," their patriotism rose to the level of any 
emergency. The President's removal of the de- 
posits ; his bank veto ; his proclamation against 
nullification ; and all the leading measures of his 
administration were endorsed in the most emphatic 
manner, if not in the choicest English. Jackson 
was very popular in Lynn at that time, as the town 
included Swampscott, which was democratic almost 
to a man. This was about the time (1833) that 
the President visited Lynn, on his tour through the 
Northern States. It was a great day for Lynn. It 
was not often that people had a chance to see a live 
President. Such a thing had happened but once 
since the days of Washington. Throngs of people 
assembled around the old Lynn Hotel, so well 
known in all the region round about. Woodend 



Il6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

sent its lull share to swell the patriotic gathering. 
An incident relating to this memorable dav occurred 
which illustrates, not only the juvenile patriotism 
that was awakened by the event, but also sheds a 
light upon the domestic side of life. A man in those 
days, with four or five children to provide for, was 
not generally able to furnish each with a ftill suit 
of "Sunday clothes," as they were usually called; 
and so a pair of boots, or a jacket, or some other 
part of a boy's wardrobe, was sometimes made to do 
miscellaneous duty among those members of the 
family whose size made such an arrangement prac- 
ticable. The theory was, that such boots or jacket 
was made for some one of the family ; but this 
theory was likely to be nullified by any domestic 
emergency that might arise. Accordingly one 
would hear — " Come, John, you 've got the boots 
on, go and get a couple of pails of water.'' This 
gave rise to the remark that the one who got up 
first in the morning got the boots. On the occasion 
referred to, the younger of two brothers of about 
the same age expected to wear a new jacket, fit to 
be worn in the presence of king or President. The 
morning came, and the elder of the two, getting 
the start, put on the new jacket, and in rather un- 
dignified haste, set oft" to pay his respects to the 
chief magistrate of the nation. The vounger soon 
discovered his loss, and realized the extent of his 
disaster. With his tattered jacket in place of the 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. II7 

new one, with shiny buttons, which he liad hoped 
to wear, he went bellowing through the streets, 
making known his loss in the vain hope of retriev- 
ing the fortunes of the day. In after times he used 
to relate this as among the bitterest experiences of 
his early years. 

THE ORDER STORES OF WEST LYNN. 

The Union and Mechanics' Stores did the chief 
part of the order business in the eastern section of 
the town. In West Lynn some of the order stores 
began business sixty, or more, years ago. Ezra 
Hitchings — known as Major — kept one of the 
first — if not the first — order stores in West Lynn. 
Mr. Hitchings began business about the first of the 
century, in the store where the post office was then 
kept, near the corner of Boston and North Federal 
streets, and for a quarter of a century was one of 
the attractive centers, where news was gathered, 
politics talked over, and all affairs, whether na- 
tional or domestic, were discussed. In 1819 Henry 
A. Breed opened a grocery store nearly opposite 
the Common station. About three years after, he 
took, as partner, his brother, Daniel N. Breed. 
This firm continued until 1829, when their brother, 
Andrews Breed, was added to the firm. This was 
an order store through all this period. A few years 
after, this firm dissolved, and Daniel N. Breed con- 



no SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

tinned the business. Mr. Breed did a verv large 
business, and at this time his was the leading order 
store in West Lynn. This store was in the west 
end of the Lynn Hotel. Henry B. Newhall also did 
a large business at this time, his store ranking sec- 
ond, perhaps, in that section of the town. The firm 
of Chase & Huse did an extensive business in dr}- 
goods more than forty years ago. At an earlier 
da}' they kept the usual variety found in a country 
store, including groceries as well as dry goods. 
Like most of the stores of that period, it w-as an or- 
der store. Caleb Wiley, w'hose place of business 
was in Market Square, and others of less note, kept 
order stores in that section of the town. 

But while orders w'ere the chief medium of ex- 
change through these years, it must not be supposed 
that they constituted the sole currencv in use. Dur- 
ing the period running from 1832 to 1836, inclusive, 
cash was paid exclusively bv many manufacturers. 
For a few years previously business had been grad- 
ually improving. The country w^as being rapidly 
settled. Western emigration from New England 
had begun, and w^hat was called the "Western 
fever " became very prevalent. Foreign immigra- 
tion was just beginning to attract attention. But 
the West of that time was not the West of to day. 
The West of those days w^as east of the Mississippi. 
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois were almost a wilder- 
ness, or an unbroken prairie. Cincinnati, after- 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. II9 

wards the " queen city of the West," until eclipsed 
by her great rivals, Chicago and St. Louis, was, 
in 1820, a town of 9600 inhabitants. In 1830 she 
had nearly three times that number ; and in 1840 
her population had risen to more than 46,000. ■ 
Columbus and St. Louis were rapidly growing 
towns. Chicago, a mere trading post in 1830, " in 
the midst of Indians," nearly doubled its population 
every four years. 

In the latter part of 1829, and through the year 
1830, money was abundant. William Sumner, in 
his History of the Currency, quotes an English 
autliority as stating that '' specie was then flowing 
to America from all parts of the world," and states 
that one of the journals of the day expressed the 
wish that some gulf might open and swallow up 
the over-abundance of silver. English investments 
in American securities began to take place about 
this time. The great canal enterprises of the 
countrv had also begun, and the earliest fruits of 
steam navigation already attracted public attention. 
Between the years 1830 and 1840 the great railroad 
interest, which, has since reached such gigantic 
proportions, started, and sent a new^ life through all 
the channels of trade touched by its influence. 

All of these causes operated more or less directly 
upon the business of Lynn. As early as 1829 the 
following manufacturers advertised to pay cash : 
Nathan D. Chase, James Pratt, Samuel Farrington, 



120 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

F. S. & H. Newhall. Mr. Chase paid cash some- 
time prior to this date. From 1832 till the revulsion 
came that prostrated the business of the country at 
the close of 1836, comparatively few orders were 
given. Business was so driving during these vears 
that bosses delivered the "stock" to the workmen, 
and came to carry back the shoes when made, 
bringing the money with them to pav the workmen 
on the spot ; so that it was not unfrequently the case 
that workmen would not see the inside of their 
bosses' shops for months together. 

Lynn had never seen such times before. Work- 
men, who for years had taken orders, now got cash. 
Some indescribable shoes were made at this period. 
Anybody could get work. Bosses bid on one an- 
other's workmen, and high prices and poor shoes 
were the order of the day. After the good times 
had run a spell, speculation began. New streets 
were opened, and more houses were built in these 
four or five years ending near the close of 1836 
than had been erected since the Revolutionary pe- 
riod. Many of these were built for the workmen. 
A few of these workmen, by their industry and 
frugality, and superior smartness, were enabled to 
lay by a few hundred dollars. There were only a 
few such. A hundred dollars was a ver}^ large sum 
then, in the eyes of a laboring man, especially, and 
represented much more than now of many of the 
necessaries of life. Land especially, was exceed- 



THE ORDER SYSTEM. 121 

ingly cheap : or at least was sold for prices that 
now look trifling. The most eligible house lots 
were sold for prices ranging from fifty to one 
hundred dollars. In 183 1 the lot situated at the 
southerly corner of Union and Exchange streets, 
containing about a quarter of an acre, and includ- 
ing most of the land lying between Exchange Block 
and the manufactory of Brown & Brother, was of- 
fered for eighty dollars, but found no purchaser. 
It must not be inferred, however, that this lot of 
land was, at that time, one of the most eligible in 
town. Far otherwise. It was the corner of a square, 
on three sides of which no business establishment 
then stood, and on the fourth side only a single one, 
occupied by Jonathan Buffum as a paint shop, and 
now standing where it then stood, on Union street, 
near Washington street, and still used — in part — 
for the same purpose by John P. Russell. 

When a workman got fifty dollars ahead he could 
easily secure a lot of land. Then the manufacturer 
would often assist him in getting a house, by ad- 
vancing money — secured by mortgage generally — 
to be paid as the earnings of the future enabled the 
workman to lay by a margin for this purpose. 
Many houses were built in this way at that time ; 
and the experiences of many in getting a home for 
themselves and their children would furnish one of 
the most interesting chapters in our local history. 
To accomplish this it was often necessary to submit 
16 



122 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

to great deprivation. The expense of maintaining 
a family — often a large family — took much the 
larger part of the earnings, and the practice of the 
most rigid economy left but a small amount to be 
applied to the payment of the debt, and the accru- 
ing interest. This was often the struggle and 
burden of a lifetime. If sickness came, that in- 
creased expenses ; or hard times that reduced the 
wages were experienced, nothing remained to meet 
the inevitable interest, and the growing debt often 
ended in foreclosure, and the ultimate loss of 
the little gained by years of toil. If, on the other 
hand, things went well, it was generally the work 
of a whole life to secure a home they could call 
their own ; while, more frequently, they left a mort- 
gage to be transmitted to their children. 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. 



The reader whose memory goes back twenty 
3'ears, and even less, in matters pertaining to Lynn, 
well remembers the old Town Hall as it stood on 
South Common street, at the head of what is now 
Blossom street — then only a court ending at the 
yard in the rear of the old hall. It was not an im- 
posing structure, though when it was built, in 1814, 
it was doubtless regarded with pride by the archi- 
tect who planned it, as well as by the citizens who 
furnished the money for its construction. It was 
so many times larger than any of the shoemakers' 
shops that were seen in all the streets of the town 
at that time, and so much larger than any other 
building, public or private, with very few excep- 
tions, that it was, without doubt, pointed to by our 
fathers as a structure reflecting credit upon the 
taste and public spirit of our ancient town. Its di- 
mensions were about one hundred feet in length, 
and sixty feet in width. When it was built it stood 
on the Common, nearly 'opposite Hanover street, 
its front facing the east end of the Common. A 



124 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



considerable part of the lower story was taken up 
with a wide passage way, or hall, running its entire 
length, and having wide doors at either end ; and 
through this passage the military, on "training 
days," marched, coming out at the west end near 
the old Gun House, which then stood on the Com- 
mon — preparatory to receiving the final order to 
"break ranks," when the patriotic service of the 
day was over. " On the right of this passage were 
rooms used at different times as the armories of 
some of the military companies, and sometimes for 
other purposes connected with the public service. 
On the left was, first, a room used for general pur- 
poses, and next, the Selectmen's room, which was 
also the office of the Town Clerk and Collector of 
Taxes. The hall occupied the entire second story. 
This was reached by a flight of stairs on either side 
leading from the front door. At the rear end was 
a low platform raised two short steps above the 
floor. This platform covered a space some fifteen 
feet square, surrounded by a railing. In the front, 
about three feet from the railing, was a " barricade," 
or fence, making a passage way, through which 
voters passed to deposit their ballots in a box which 
was placed midway, and just behind the front rail- 
ing. Voters also passed through this passage when 
the important parliamentary proceeding of " polling 
the house " was resorted to. The space enclosed 
by this railing w^as popularly called the "calf-pen." 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. 1 25 

The writer has not been able to trace out the origin 
ot'this name. Whether its looks, or its size, or the 
use to which it was put, were suggestive of such an 
agricultural inclosure is not known. On this point 
history is silent, and the reader is left in the unfet- 
tered exercise of his opinion to settle the question 
as he pleases. 

TOWN MEETING IN THE OLD TOWN HALL. 

The town meeting of the olden time was a great 
event. The " March meeting," when the expendi- 
tures for the ensuing year were determined, and 
all questions relating to the amount to be expended 
by each department were discussed and settled ; 
and the fall election, when all questions of state 
and national importance were to be acted upon bv 
the independent voters of the town, had a social 
and domestic significance, as well as a public and 
political meaning. Here were gathered twice a 
year, not only friends and near neighbors confined 
within the narrow limits of a ward, as now, under our 
city charter's regulation, but reladves and acquaint- 
ances, coming all the wa}- from Nahant, on the 
south, to the boundaries of Marblehead, Salem and 
Danvers, on the north, and from Swampscott, on 
the east, to the lines that separated our territory 
from Saugus and Lynnfield, on the west. It was 
a day when old friendships were renewed ; when 



126 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



inquiries after health and absent friends were made ; 
and when questions about crops, business, politics, 
and ever\'thing pertaining to personal welfare and 
the public good, were freely asked and answered. 
And so couples here ' and there were scattered 
round the hall, and in pleasant weather, about the 
door, asking all sorts of questions, and discussing 
every topic, public and private, from Jackson's 
bank veto, and the question whether it was better 

to elect old Overseer of the Poor for another 

year, down to the scarcel}- less momentous ques- 
tions of a more private nature — whether old 

" knocked oft'" finding paste-flour because it was so 
high, and whether he'll make the plan work ; and 
whether it was best to "stand a cut" of two cents a 
pair which the boss made because a few lots run from 
"twos to sixes," instead of from " threes to sevens." 
On important election days, when some great 
crisis arose in national, state or town affairs, the 
old hall was crowded from the liour the doors were 
opened until the polls were closed. During the 
anti-masonic controversy Lynn shared the general 
excitement. State and town elections turned upon 
this question, and it came well nigh entering as an 
element in the presidential contest of 1832. A na- 
tional convention of anti-masons was held in 1831, 
and William Wirt was nominated as their presiden- 
tial candidate. He carried one state — Vermont 
giving him her seven electoral votes. The " antis " 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. 1 27 

were largely in the ascendency here, and it was 
thought as important that the town officers should 
be of the right stripe as at any time since Federal- 
ists and Republicans divided the nation into parties. 
Now and then a lierce " anti " and zealous brother 
of the ancient order would meet face to face on 
election day. Then remarks would be indulged 
in too personal to be warranted by parliamentary 
law ; and sometimes an intimation would be thrown 
out by one party that, at some previous period in 
the life of the other, somebody found a difficulty in 
collecting a little bill when it became due, and 
did n't succeed much better at any time thereafter. 
Then a retort would be hurled back having a physi- 
ological bearing, to the effect that the other's head 
was altogether too red to take an impartial view of 
the matter, and if he, the aforesaid with red hair, 
was not shielded by considerations of old age, and 
other circumstances, he would settle the case then 
and there, without the aid of referees. Boys of all 
sizes would gather round — some of them pretty 
large — to hear these "poppets," as they were 
called, and to get their vocabulary enlarged with 
several phrases not found in an}" volume of " ele- 
gant extracts." 

When the election promised to be at all close, the 
choice of moderator was the result of an exciting 
contest. Then the one who yelled the loudest, or 
stood nearest the clerk — who put the motion — 



128 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

would get the name of his favorite candidate before 
the meeting. Then the clerk would declare that 
the name of Benjamin Mudge, or some one of a 
half dozen Avho every now and then held the helm — 
not exactly of state, but of town meeting — would 
be the nominee. And no ordinary hand, either, 
was needed to navigate in those stormy waters 
where often there was a heavy sea running, and 
occasionally a " short chop " caused by a sudden 
change of wind. Then the clerk would put the 
vote : " As many as are in favor of Benjamin 
Mudge serving as Moderator of this meeting will 
manifest it by saying aye:' Instantly a yell arose, 
more or less vociferous, according to the strength 
of the political gale then blowing. This was often 
decisive enough to settle the matter without the 
formality of calling the negative ; and when the 
nays were called, and but a small show was made, 
a shout of laughter made the old hall echo — a 
shout that was generally repeated with greater em- 
phasis when some wag made a comment more sig- 
nificant than parliamentary. But if the vote was 
more evenly divided, and the clerk declared a 
choice, then a half-dozen would doubt the vote, 
and the clerk would call for a show of hands until 
counted. This was generally an uncertain and un- 
satisfactory job ; and unless the majority was very 
clear it would be decided to "poll the house." 
Then the clerk would order that those in favor of 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. 1 29 

the motion should pass throvigh the opening in front 
of the raiHng that they might be counted. This 
would sometimes be an amusino- proceedincr, Youngf 
men who had just become invested with the rights 
of citizenship would march through as though the 
weight of empires rested on their shoulders. This 
would be the opportunity for a few wags who oc- 
cupied a commanding position on some of the high 
seats on either side of the hall to indulge in com- 
ments, miscellaneous in their character, and com- 
prehensive in their range, upon the various classes 
of citizens as they discharged the high prerogative 
of freemen. These observations included remarks 
upon dress, size and general appearance of the 
individual, as well as matters of detail, such as 
length of the nose, color of the hair, shape of the 
head, or any other peculiarity of person or ward- 
robe. Here was an excellent opportunity to study 
human nature and the fashions at the same time, 
and the wags improved it. The outskirts of the 
town were then, much more than now, rural dis- 
tricts, and some of the fashions were unique as well 
as antique. Some of them dated back to the first 
part of the century, and some of them would be a 
compound of late and earlier styles. 

At this stage of the meeting, perhaps, the " un- 
terrified" from Swampscott had not arrived; but 
before the "yeas" had all passed through, the mar- 
tial drum and the piercing fife announced the com- 
17 



130 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

inof of the sturd\' fishermen hosts that never marched 
except to victory. Then a rush of bo3'S — some of 
them pretty well grown up — would pour out at the 
door and down over the stairs to meet the " old 
guard." Soon the heavy tread of fishing boots 
would be heard — there were no rubber boots then ; 
and probably not a pair of French boots was seen 
in the whole lot — and the invincible army whose 
presence was a presage of victory, marched into 
the hall with " Cap'n Natty '" at its head. Ney, as 
he led the Imperial Guard, might have had more 
horses shot under him, and his face more black- 
ened with powder, but he never marched with a 
prouder step when his great captain gave the des- 
tinies of Europe into his hands on the field of Water- 
loo, than "Captain Natty," as he led the one hun- 
dred, more or less, to the bloodless victories that 
never ended in a Waterloo, or a Peterloo ; for his 
veterans never blenched before any danger on the 
land or on the sea — especially on the sea. Then 
the cry would go up — not exactly the cry of 
Winkelried's " Make way for Liberty ! " — but one 
animated by the same spirit. " Make way for 
Swampscott." Then they would march in solid 
phalanx — as solid as practicable — through the 
passage in front of the " calf-pen," and the destinies 
of the day were sealed. It was almost ridiculous 
after this for the " nays " to attempt to make a show : 
but they always did ; and when the clerk announced 



THE OLD TCnVN HALL. 



131 



the result, showing that the ayes had it by an over- 
whelming- majority — though he did n't put it in that 
form — a shout would go up, mingled with sundry 
comments more emphatic than parliamentar}-. But, 
perhaps, before this question was settled, some 
zealous leader of the opposition, whether Mason or 
Whig, \^•ould demand to know whether this military 
style was not an infringement upon the sacredness 
of the ballot ? He would like to know whether 
citizens were to be overawed in the discharge of 
their solemn public duties by an imposing displa\' 
of numbers, and the exciting strains of martial 
music ? These questions were usually regarded 
as too heavy for the clerk, and the occasion, and as 
the questioner generally wanted to know too much, 
the answers he got were about as satisfactory as 
those given by young Barnacle at the " Circumlo- 
cution Office." But they were more miscellaneous. 
From twenty to five hundred would answer at once. 
As so many could not judicially consider the matter 
at the same time, the replies were not strictly forensic 
and argumentative in their character. " O, you go 
home I " " Stop your clack ! " '' What are you 
going to do about it ? " were a few of the ques- 
tions, so rapidly put that no reporter could note 
them down, and which it would have taken several 
days to answer. Besides these, several side ques- 
tions would be asked, by one another in the crowd, 
such as " What 's that distressinp- Whio- talkinsr 



132 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

about ? " and others more personal and less compli- 
mentary. 

In due time the decision was officially announced 
that somebody had been chosen Moderator. Then 
the regular day's work of voting for the several 
candidates who were to fill state, county, or town 
offices — or national, if any such were to be elect- 
ed — began. A good many episodes occurred to 
vary the ordinary events of the day, especially if 
the election was at all exciting. A good many 
teams would be needed to bring voters from distant 
parts of the town, as well as the aged or feeble who 
lived near. Every now and then a team would 
drive up to the door of the Town House, the horse 
white with lather, and the wagon, carriage, chaise 
— "the one horse shay," which Holmes has im- 
mortalized, was then much in use — or whatever 
was the vehicle attached, full, and sometimes more 
than full, of free and independent electors, ready 
to sacrifice one day, at least, on the altar of their 
country, and, in an emergency, two or three. 
Eacii arrival would be the occasion tor some re- 
mark, joke, or "guffaw," as the political complex- 
ion of the voters in the several teams seemed to 
foreshadow the final issue of the contest. Now and 
then some " Loco," willing to extend his useful- 
ness, would intimate to a faithful ally that Old J.'s 
team was outside — naminjj some fierv Whig- — 
and inquire how it would do to get it and go after 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. I33 

some Democratic voters. If the sugfgestion met with 
a favorable response, Old J.'s team would be used 
for the illegitimate purpose of bringing "Loco"' 
voters to swell a Democratic victory. Perhaps 
soon after some zealous Whig would step up to Mr. 
J. with the inquiry, "Can I have your team to go 
after Mr. So-and-so ? '' " Oh, yes ; you '11 find it 
right out there in the shed.*' As Old J.'s team was 
by this time somewhere in Woodend, or somewhere 
else more or less distant, it was, by a generally ad- 
mitted principle in physics, not found in the shed. 
The case would be reported to Old J. The demon- 
stration that followed varied according to the circum- 
stances. It was not generally concluded that the 
horse had run off. The inquir}" would more likely 

be — " What (adjective) Locofoco has stole 

my team ? " This would be the signal for the few 
Democrats who were in the secret to break out into 
a roar of laughter ; and for months after, in certain 
shoemakers' shops, an explosion of " guffaws " 
would take place whenever anybody inquired how^ 
many "Loco " voters Dick got with Old J.'s team. 
x\ good deal of amusement was got out of this busi- 
ness of rallying voters. A few years after the time 
to which this history is now referring, Robert Ran- 
toul was in the field to receive some political honor, 
if the people so willed it. An active young Demo- 
crat, willing to aid the candidate in reaching the 
goal of his ambition, volunteered his services as 



134 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

one of the rallying committee. Putting his head 
inside the door of a shoemaker's shop, he called out 
— "Any Rantoul \'oters here ?" There was a simul- 
taneous movement within, and one of the crew, 
armed with a " skiver," started for the door. The 
young Democrat did not stop to inquire whether he 
was to be halved and quartered, or whether he was 
simply wanted to turn the grindstone for the man 
with the skiver, but made the best use of his flexible 
limbs, and reached his team in safety. He had 
stumbled upon a W/i/'g shop. 

As the word "Locofoco," as a party name, came 
into use about this time it is, perhaps, significant 
enough to w'arrant the following explanation, given 
by Webster in his quarto dictionary, of the origin 
of the word as thus applied : 

'•'•Locofoco — According to some etymologists from the 
Latin loco foci ^ instead of fire ; according to Bartlett, it 
was called so from a self-lighting cigar, with a match 
composition at the end. invented in 1S34. by John Alarck. 
in New Vork, and called by him locofoco cigar ^ a word 
coined in imitatioii of the word locomotive, which, bv 
the vulgar, was supposed to mean self-moving. The 
name was applied, in 1S34, to the extreme portion of the 
Democratic party, because, at a meeting in Tammany 
Hall, Nevv' York, in which there was great diversity of 
sentiment, the chairman left his seat, and the lights were 
extinguished, with a view to dissolve the meeting ; when 
those in fovor of extreme measures produced locofoco 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. 



o:) 



matches, rckimlled the hj^hts, conthuicd the meeting, and 
accomplished their object." 

There is always a class in every community 
whose political color is not brought out until elec- 
tion morning. This class existed fifty years ago 
as well as now, and to secure their suffrages, to turn 
the scale in doubtful contests, was an art studied 
in those days as well as at present. Some of these 
cases required a good deal of strategy, and nobody 
could tell how they would come out until the vote 
was safely deposited in the ballot box. The plots 
of one party would be overthrown by the counter 
plots of the other, and many a deep laid plan was 
countermined, and blown into the air, just as victory 
was within sight. It was necessary to get posses- 
sion of some of these voters at the critical time or 
the whole game would be lost. This was espec- 
ially the case with those who exhilarated their 
spirits with any of the artificial drinks then in com- 
mon use. Such were supplied with a liberal allow- 
ance of ''black-strap " and New England rum, and 
stowed away in a safe place — generally in the shop 
chamber — until the time when they were to be 
taken to the polls. If the victim was a Whig, or 
iiad proclivities that way when in his normal con- 
dition, his friends would, perhaps, capture him 
before the crisis was reached, and so snatch victory 
from the very jaws of defeat. In that case, all the 



136 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

"black-Strap" and New England rum went for 
nothing. Then the other party would return the 
joke whenever the chance came. There was a set 
of old codgers in almost every neighborhood who 
furnished the material for this political guerrilla 
warfare, though it is not to be supposed there were 
many such. Whichever part}- got at them first, 
and held out the needful inducement, (the induce- 
ment was generally in a liquid form, and was not 
often milk and water,) and — more important than 
all — kept them under the necessary guard, so as 
to be sure of them at the nick of time, would so far 
swell the vote for their favorite candidate. Some- 
times inducements of other kinds were held out, 
and failed from causes so exceptional that even the 
wisdom of a politician could not foresee and pro- 
vide against them — as in the following case : 
Uncle W. was getting into the " sere and yellow 
leaf,"' and was at this time about seventy-three years 
of age. His ideas of chronology were not always 
clear, even those concerning his own age, as the 
sequel shows. His proclivities were decidedly 
Whig, or at least had been when the cog-wheels of 
his mental machinery were less broken than now ; 
but he lived in a Democratic neighborhood, and 
had many friends and acquaintances among the 
adherents of Jackson and Van Buren. A zealous 
young Democrat — who, if called Simon, would 
not answer to the name — on good terms with Uncle 



THE OLD TOWN HAI.L. I37 

W., laid a deep plan to secure his vote at the next 
election, then a few months ahead. Simon was 
somewhat expert at hair-cutting, and could, upon 
occasion, shave a customer, thouo-h his regular 
business was shoemaking. It was accordingly ar- 
ranged that he should keep Uncle W.'s hair and 
beard in good trim, and so pave the way to make 
a good Democrat of him by the time election day 
came round. The day came round, of course, and 
Uncle W. came, too, sufficiently guarded to pro- 
vide against all reasonable contingencies. But 
some wags had got wind of the affair, and under- 
standing the situation generally, as well as Uncle 
W.'s unreliability, and uncertain movements in par- 
ticular, were on hand read}^ to turn things to the 
best account. Uncle W., duly provided with the 
right ballot, was led up to the box. " I challenge 
that man's vote," shouted one of the wags. " On 
what ground ? " asked the Moderator. " He has 
not paid his poll tax." "Mr. W.," inquired the 
Moderator, " have you paid a poll tax within two 
years ? " Uncle W. admitted that he had not added 
that amount to the town treasury. " He is seventy- 
three years of age," said one of Uncle W.'s guard, 
" and is entitled to the exemption of his poll tax 
which the law allows to citizens over seventy." 
"What is your age, Mr. W. ?" asked the Moder- 
ator. "If my memory sarvcs me," said Uncle W., 
" I 'm « leetle risin^ sixty-seven ! " As the Moder- 
iS 



138 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ator couldn't go behind this statement, Uncle W., 
and the Democratic party, lost a vote. But the 
sorest loss came to Simon, who saw the fabric that 
he had slowly reared by his industry, and his ton- 
sorial art, sink down and go out of sight just as the 
cap-sheaf was to be placed upon it. But all that 
was lost by Uncle W., and the Democratic party, 
and Simon, put together, was more than made up 
b}' the fun the wags got out of it. Simon is occa- 
sionally reminded, even at this late day, of his hair- 
cutting enterprise with Uncle W. in behalf of pop- 
ular government. 

John E. was well-known as a stanch Democrat, 
ready, with both hands, to push on the party column 
to victory, and willing to avail himself of any out- 
side aid, such as a horse and carriage might fur- 
nish. Politely stepping up to Mr. B., then a can- 
didate for senatorial honors on the Whig side, John 
blandly informed the candidate that he knew two 
voters who, he thought, could be secured if they 
should be sent for, and asked Mr. B. if he had any 
objection to having his carriage — which stood 
near — used for this purpose. "Not in the least," 
said Mr. B., in the most affable manner, doubtless 
flattered with what seemed to him the compliment 
of having enlisted the aid of a political opponent in 
his behalf. John brought two good Democrats, 
and it was said a good man}^ more, whose united 
votes did not swell Mr. B.'s majority. 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. I39 

The March meeting was often of more interest 
than any other of the year. This is easily ex- 
plained. The interests involved in national and 
state elections are more remote, and do not touch 
the individual at so many points as in the election 
of town or municipal officers. Whatever is prac- 
tical in our theory of government is made so, in a 
great degree, by the execution of those local laws 
which determine the great question of taxation, and 
the objects to which public mone}' shall be applied. 
What our schools shall be, how the poor in our midst 
shall be provided for, how our property shall best 
be protected against fire, whether our roads shall 
be good or bad, what the public regulations shall 
be for the safety of person and property, are ques- 
tions of such interest that the simplest minds can 
understand their direct bearing, even if they do not 
see the remote consequences that often come from 
public measures. For these reasons the March 
meeting had an interest that called together a crowd 
in the old Town Hall not often seen at other town 
meetings. This was especially the case when some 
unusual appropriation might be looked for, such as 
a new engine, or a new school-house, or the pur- 
chase of any property by the town, or any expendi- 
ture whatever that involved an increase in the ap- 
propriation. Accordingl}', when that item of busi- 
ness — the amount of appropriation — came before 
the meeting, all ears were open to hear the motion — 



140 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



" I move you, Mr. Moderator, that the appropria- 
tion for the ensuing year be thousand dollars." 

If this blank was filled with what was thought to 
be about the right sum, it was put to vote without 
any attempt at amendment ; but this was not gener- 
ally the case. If the man who made the motion 
had a hobby, or was suspected of having one, the 
amount would be considered too large. Then some 
one would move that the amount be fixed at a lower 
sum. Then, possibly, a debate would arise whether 
the question should be first taken on the original 
motion, according to the common practice of taking 
the question on the largest sums first, or whether the 
vote on the amendment should be first taken, in 
conformity to the rule giving precedence to an 
amendment. But the niceties of parliamentary law 
were not then much dwelt upon. Cushing's Manual 
had not then made its appearance, neither had the 
famous Silsbee Street Debating Society set up its 
beacon light of instruction, illuminating the whole 
circle of human knowledge, and making clearer the 
boundary of public duty and the line of individual 
rights. Jefferson's Manual was the great authority 
npon parliamentary law, but probably not six copies 
could then be found within the limits of the town. 
And so not much time was spent in wrangling over 
points of order. Business was disposed of in an 
off'-hand manner, and when a blunder was made 
that might render the town liable for damages, or 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. I4I 

any illegal action was taken, the legislature could 
set ever3^thing all right by legalizing the proceed- 
ings, and so straighten whatever was crooked in 
the doings of the sovereign people in town meeting 
assembled. 

But the amount of the appropriation was finally 
fixed to the satisfaction of most, and to the dissatis- 
faction of many, as a matter of course. But what- 
ever the sum, whether large or small, it was likely 
to be overrun more or less. We have improved 
very much in this respect of late years. Our fathers 
could make the expenses overrun the appropriation 
a few hundred dollars, but we can overlap several 
thousands without making any special effort. But 
there were some in those days, as now, who did n't 
believe in this method of doing business. Capt. D. 
was one. "What is the use," said he, "of appro- 
priating a certain amount every year, and then 
spending more every time ? Why not have enough 
to go round ? I move, Mr. Moderator, that the 
appropriation be $1,000,000." As this figure was 
half the valuation of the town — more or less — at 
that time, Capt. D. seemed to think that the sum 
was ample. 

The crowd present on many of these election 
days was the occasion, oftentimes, of noisy demon- 
strations. A large per cent, of boys and youngsters 
were usually on hand, ready to turn any incident 
to the best account, and enliven the scene with 



142 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

jokes, witticisms, and, if temptation seemed to offer, 
more forcible exhibitions of pleasantry and youth- 
ful independence. The constable, armed with the 
majesty of the law, which seemed to be embodied 
in the emblem of authority — the baton — he wield- 
ed, was often the center of attraction in more senses 
than one. Not only were all eyes and ears turned 
toward him as the most conspicuous figure of the 
group, but he often felt the weight and pressure of 
more immediate personal attentions than were con- 
venient for him to receive while in the discharge of 
his official duties. He would often find himself in 
the midst of a surging mass that sw^ayed to and fro 
on the floor of the hall. Then rearing his baton 
aloft when the crowd seemed to be honoring him 
with more than usual attentions, he would intimate 
that any undue familiarity would be regarded as 
about the same thing as an assault upon the Com- 
monwealth. Now would be seen a simultaneous 
movement that seemed directed by a common im- 
pulse to a certain definite object — that object being 
to see how few times the conspicuous figure holding 
the baton of authority could touch his feet to the 
floor on his way from the spot where he then stood 
to the opposite side of the hall. This movement 
was as irresistible as the tides of the sea. Frantic- 
ally struggling to resist the current that bore him 
onward, and looking very red in the face, his ef- 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. I43 

forts to keep his equilibrium resembled the move- 
ment known among boys when bathing as " tread- 
ing water." He would finally land somewhere, 
and turning fiercely round would look unutterable 
things, as though about to vindicate the insulted 
majesty of the law on the spot. Then somebody 
would break into a "guffaw," in which the crowd 
joined. Finally some wag would make a remark 
that would be too much even for the gravity of the 
constable. The severity of his countenance would 
relax, and he would join in the general laughter, 
after having first preserved his official dignity by 
rapping a boy on the head. It was an amusing 
study to see how gracefully and timely he would 
yield to the pressure of opposing forces as the sov- 
ereign people, taking an enlarged view of their 
palladium on the day when called upon to exercise 
the highest prerogative of freemen, would assert 
their right of eminent domain. 

While the crowd was surging to and fro, various 
episodes would occur that would not have a direct 
bearing upon the voting that was going on. It was _ 
not safe for a man to be in the midst of this crowd 
with a white hat on — or rather the hat was not 
safe — especially if it was one of unusual dimen- 
sions, or of an ancient pattern. On the appear- 
ance of such a hat, at such a time, some one might 
be seen reaching a long arm over the shoulders of 



144 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

two or three in front, and by a well-directed blow 
with the palm of the hand drive the white hat afore- 
said down over the eyes of the wearer. The sud- 
denness with which such a one would look round, 
and the astonishment depicted on his countenance — 
after he had got his hat back far enough so you could 
see his countenance — would not be regarded with 
indifference by the spectators, but would rather 
suggest a comparison between the collapsed beaver 
and an accordeon. 

Now and then a candy boy would make an in- 
quiry whether some one did n't want to buy a stick 
of candy. This was the genuine home-made mo- 
lasses cand}', and the sales of this never-failing 
adjunct of town meeting were looked forward to, 
and calculated upon, for many days in advance. 
Many ate molasses candy on town meeting day 
who probably never ate it on any other day of the 
year. Early in the morning some of these " mer- 
chant princes " in this traffic would be seen wend- 
ing their way along with tin pans full of candy 
packed into each other, musing, doubtless, on the 
prospective profits of the day. They would be 
likely to be seen again along towards night seated 
in a retired spot with a pile of coppers — not nickel 
— in one of the tin pans, and engaged in a deep 
mathematical calculation whether these profits had 
been realized. A few small boys micrht have been 



THE OLD TOWN HALL. I45 

seen looking on astounded at this displa^' of riches, 
who imagined they had that day seen treasures 
that far outshone the "wealth of Ormus or of Ind." 
Some of our thrifty citizens, no doubt, laid the 
foundations of their fortunes selling candy on these 
election davs. 



19 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 



The business revulsion of 1837 ^^'^^ so marked in 
some of its features that it stands out as an epoch 
in our commercial and financial history. After the 
great depression in 1825, trade gradually revived, 
and from the year 1830 to the fall of 1836, the 
country saw a period of feverish excitement, when 
rash speculations of every kind were carried on 
from one end of the land to the other. Western 
emigration had just then taken possession of the 
people, and thousands turned their backs to New 
England, and journeyed toward the setting sun. 
They stopped, however, some ways short of this, 
not even thinking of crossing the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and generally halting before they reached 
the confines of the Mississippi. The great States of 
the West — Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri — 
were, even then, being settled at a rapid rate, and 
chiefly by young men from the East. The tide of 
foreign immigration had just begun to flow, and 
the next twenty-five years witnessed a spectacle of 
growth and development that was the marvel of 



THE PANIC OF I037. ^47 

modern civilization. Ohio was then the Qjueen 
State of the West. In a Httle more than a quarter 
of a century she had grown from a wilderness to 
the first rank among agricultural States. In 1840 
she had risen to the first place in the production of 
wheat, Pennsylvania standing next. She stood 
fourth in the production of Indian corn, Virginia, 
Kentucky, and Tennessee standing before her. In 
the value of live stock and wool she was exceeded 
only by one or two States. In 1850 she took the 
lead in the production of Indian corn. What are 
now the great agricultural States of the West — 
Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and Wis- 
consin — had, for the most part, but just begun to 
send their products to market, and the last two 
were but little else than a wilderness in the specu- 
lative period that culminated in the panic of 1837. 

Those States whose population now numbers 
some 10,500,000 had then scarcely reached 900,- 
000, or about one-twelfth. The difficultv and cost 
of transportation cut off the bulky products of the 
West from distant markets. But the West of that 
day was a different region from the West of to-day. 
In 1830 Illinois had, in round numbers, 476,000 ; 
Indiana, 340,000; Missouri, 140,000; Michigan, 
32,000. Wisconsin contained only a few thousand, 
scattered through the wilderness. She contained 
31,000 in 1840. In 1830 Chicago was a mere 
trading post, and the wigwams of the Indians were 



148 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

just beginning to disappear. In 1840 it contained 
less than 5000 inhabitants. St. Louis, in 1830, 
contained less than 7000. Cincinnati, the Queen 
city of the West at that time, contained less than 
25,000, and it nearly doubled its population in the 
next ten years. For twenty-five years she was the 
greatest pork market in the country. Detroit, in 
1830, had but 2200 inhabitants. It more than 
quadrupled its population in the next ten years. 
Even Columbus was then a small town whose pop- 
ulation did not reach 6000 till 1840. In the next 
ten years it trebled that number. New Orleans 
was one of the great cities of the Union in 1830, 
having a population of 46,000, which increased to 
102,000 in 1840, or nearly two and a half times in a 
single decade. Baltimore was then one of the chief 
flour markets of the country ; St. Louis, Haxall, 
Michigan, and other leading brands of flour were 
then unknown. Baltimore and Howard Street flour 
then took the lead. Western flour was just begin- 
ning to find a market in the East, but had not 
gained a very high reputation. 

The decade between 1830 and 1840 was the pe- 
riod when fortunes were made and lost in raising 
and speculating in cotton. Machinery, and a gen- 
eral development of manufacturing industr}-, had 
given an extraordinary impetus to its cultivation, 
and its price during the years 1833, 1834, and 1835, 
averaged nearly fourteen cents a pound. Southern 



THE PANIC OF 1837. I49 

cities grew up as if by magic, and speculation in 
real estate promised great wealth. The real estate 
of Mobile was assessed $4,000,000 in 1834 ' $6,000,- 
000 in 1835 ? $18,000,000 in 1836; $27,000,000 in 
1837. In 1838 it collapsed to $7,000,000, and ten 
years afterwards — 1848 — it was assessed just under 
nine inillions. This real estate mania showed itself 
in the sales of public lands. In 1833 about $4,000,- 
000 worth was sold. In 1834 nearly $5,000,000. 
In 1835, $14,700,000. In 1836, $24,800,000. In 
1838 the sales had fallen to $3,000,000. 

Crazy speculation showed itself in every direc- 
tion. There was Eastern land . speculation and 
Western land speculation. A good deal of valu- 
able time was wasted in making diagrams of hypo- 
thetical cities. Eligible corner lots were marked 
out, showing the exact site — as near as might be — 
of future hotels, warehouses, factories, and all the 
other adjuncts that attest the march of civilization — 
and this, too, in the forests of Maine that had been 
a wilderness ever since the crust of the earth had 
been clothed with verdure ; a region which re- 
mained a wilderness fifty years after, and which 
promises to be a wilderness for a time outrunning 
the horoscope of man. Western land speculation 
was nearly as silly as this. In this case, however, 
subsequent developments marking that marvelous 
growth of our Western empire, gave promise that 
within fifty or a hundred years the woodman's ax 



150 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

might be heard felling trees upon the site of these 
paper cities. 

The bank system of this period was probably one 
of the most vicious of modern times, if not, indeed, 
of any time. The overthrow of the United States 
Bank, in 1836, and the collapse of the Pennsylvania 
Bank, designed to take the place of the old institu- 
tion which had run since Washington's adminis- 
tration — a period of forty years — gave rise to the 
" pet bank " system. Under this system each State 
created as many of these mills for making paper 
money as the supposed wants of business seemed 
to demand; and the terms by which this money 
was designated were more expressive than euphon- 
ious. It was called "red back" in Texas, and 
"wild cat" in Mississippi. Its value was more 
miscellaneous, if possible, than its appearance. It 
was worth one-third or two-thirds the value ex- 
pressed on its face, according to circumstances of 
time and place. But the functions of these "fiscal 
agents" w^ere designed to operate, for the most 
part, in the home market ; and if any of them 
strayed beyond the State that was responsible for 
their existence, they found their way into an old 
scrap-book, or something else, where they were 
looked at occasionally as a financial curiosity. The 
paper money of the Eastern and Middle States gen- 
erally passed current at par within the States where 
it was issued : but it was looked upon with suspi- 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 15I 

cion when it strayed far from home, and was often 
subject to a discount sufficient to embarrass busi- 
ness, and entail a loss upon the receivers. The 
old shoemakers of Lynn now^ living will well re- 
member when the boss gave them a New- York 
bill ; and how it was scanned, and the probable dis- 
count calculated. They will also remember the 
healthy exercise they took in running round the 
neighborhood to find some one w^ho, having deal- 
ings in the Empire State, w^ould take it off their 
hands without a discount. When the government 
became wise enough to establish a national cur- 
rency, all those eleventh-century methods W'ere put 
an end to ; and equality of value, whatever that 
value might be, was maintained from one end of 
the country to the other. 

During these years of business activity L3'-nn did 
its full share. There were probably more poor 
shoes m^ide at this period than were ever made in 
oUr city before or since in the same length of time. 
The " stock," for the most part, was better than the 
workmanship, and the soles were generally better 
than the uppers. The great defect was a lack of 
system, which ignored all the laws of adaptation. 
Firm, stout soles were joined to uppers that were 
evidently got up with no reference to wear ; and 
worse than this, if both were equally good — as was 
sometimes the case — they were often spoiled in 
making up. As an illustration of this, thousands 



152 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

of pairs of boots cut from stout grained leather up- 
per stock, and having soles of the best quality, 
were spoiled by the miserable expedient of using 
^apcr stiffenings. When it is understood that this 
paper was not the stout, compact leather-board of 
the present day, but a tender straw-paper that a 
drop of water would penetrate through and through, 
no comment is needed to demonstrate the utter 
worthlessness of the article when it was ready for the 
foot of the wearer. Nor was this the only unscien- 
tific and wasteful arrangement. Shoes were sewed 
in such a manner that they dropped to pieces long 
before they were half worn out ; and when the sew- 
ing was good the labor was wasted by the sense- 
less practice of " trimming the uppers close to the 
stitch " — a practice that made it impossible to wear 
a pair of these shoes a second time — thus causing 
a waste that could be reckoned by tens of thou- 
sands of dollars, if not by millions. 

The break-down in business, which came in the 
winter of 1836-7, was more complete and wide- 
spread than any the country had ever known. 
Numerous causes conspired to intensify its severity. 
Not the least of these was the short crop of nearly 
all the great staples in 1836. There was frost 
every month in that year. The extreme cold, ac- 
companied with excessive droughts in some parts 
of the country, lessened the amount of production 
by more, probably, than $100,000,000. We had 



THE PANIC OF 1837. '^53 

been running in debt at a fearful rate, both at home 
and abroad. In six years ending January, 1837, we 
had imported merchandise to the amount of $134,- 
000,000 more tlian tlie value of our exports. $52,- 
000,000 of this was in the single year 1836. The ex- 
ports from Great Britain alone to this country rose 
trom $7, 500,000 in 1833 to about $42,500,000 in 1836 
and fell the next year to about $4,500,000. Our vast 
export of cotton — the production of which increased 
150 per cent, during the decade ending 1840 — went 
but a little way to balance our foreign indebtedness. 
Besides this, we had imported $34,000,000 in spe- 
cie. The impetus given to trade by the building 
of the Erie Canal turned speculation in this direc- 
tion, and the mania to acquire land on the borders 
of the lakes outrun all common sense. In 1835 this 
canal was enlarged, and this enlargement did not 
lessen the speculative delusion. The fact that there 
were millions of acres more than could possibly be 
utilized within a century under any possible con- 
ditions of wealth and numbers, did not prevent men 
from investing their money in land which gave no 
more promise of a reasonable return on their invest- 
ment than the same amount of territory in the moon. 
Immense fortunes were made, and the nation, States, 
corporations, municipalities, and individuals were 
piling up wealth in all directions — on -pafer. But 
after making full allowance for this fictitious in- 
crease, the real additions to the nation's wealth 



154 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



were very great. Evidences of this were seen on 
every hand. More land was brought under culti- 
vation, more iron produced, more coal mined, and 
more manufactured goods of every kind produced. 
As an illustration of this, the coal mined in 1830 
was 200,000 tons. In 1837 it was more than 1,000,- 
000. The nation was getting rich, but not so fast 
as appearances indicated. The mistake comes 
from confounding transfers with increase. A man 
may invest $10,000 in land, and if he adds nothing 
to the productive capacity of that land, marking 
the f rice up ten per cent, will not enrich him nor 
the community. 

The impulse given to trade soon after 1830 
changed the condition of Lynn during the next six 
years more rapidly and more essentially than at any 
previous period in her history. This showed itself 
at every turn. The number of buildings erected 
during these years was probably greater than the 
whole number built from the first settlement of the 
town two hundred years before. The number of 
new streets opened between 1830 and 1840 was 
nearly equal to the whole number previously exist- 
ing. There were sixty streets in the town in 183 1. 
In 1840 there were one hundred and three, and 
nearly all of the new ones were opened during the 
first six years of this period. 

When the panic came the foundations of business 
seemed to be taken away. In November, 1836, 



THE PANIC OF 1837. I55 

the Agricultural Bank, of Ireland, and the Northern 
and Central Bank, of Manchester, England, be- 
came involved in difficulties, and called upon the 
Bank of England for aid. Aid was given on 
condition that they wind up their affairs. Next 
came the tidings of the unsound condition of the 
three great English houses, Wilkes, Wilde, and 
Wiggins — known as the "three W.'s " These 
houses did an extensive business with this country, 
giving large credits ; and the shock was felt from 
one end of the land to the other. Then came a 
series of business explosions that kept the commer- 
cial world in a high fever of excitement for months. 
The first inquiry men made, as they met each morn- 
ing, was — '' Who has failed now ? " 

Shoe houses in all the great cities of the Union, 
and especially in the South, "went up" one after 
another in rapid succession, and Lynn held its 
breath in suspense. The indebtedness of these 
houses to the chief shoe town in the country was 
larger than ever before. Long credits were then 
the order of the day. The planters of the South 
usually had their crops mortgaged a year ahead. 
The crop of 1836 was probably the lightest — tak- 
ing into account the area planted — gathered since 
1816. The deficiency of the cotton crop was reck- 
oned by millions. The planter had nothing to pav 
the merchant, the merchant had nothing to pay the 
manufacturer. The recoil upon Lynn was tremen- 



1^6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

dous and overwhelming. The per cent, of loss 
was enormous. All but six or eight of the leading 
manufacturers of the town failed. A prominent citi- 
zen recently informed the writer that he walked 
through the business portion of Lynn, from east to 
west, and found but one cutter at work. Then 
came such times as the shoemakers never saw be- 
fore. Each" jour," as he carried in his "lot," got 
the " sack " or a " cut-down " that withered his am- 
bition. It is, perhaps, well enough to explain to 
the uninitiated that the " sack " meant the loss of a 
job, or " seat of work," as it was often called. The 
comments that were made in the several shoe- 
makers' shops at that time were numerous, sugges- 
tive, and highly instructive. " What did Mike say, 
Joe ?" "Said he did n't want any more. Said he 
mio-ht have some ' cacks ' bye-and-bye, four cents 
a pair, orders on ' Union.' " "Well, I do n't know 
what I shall do this winter. I've got ten bushels 
of potatoes, and a pig in the sty. I shall have to 
(TO it on pork and potatoes." " I expect to get the 
'sack,' Jim, when I carry in this lot. Perhaps I 
can o-et some 'scuffs.' I can earn thirty cents a 
day on them." The old shoemakers wall under- 
stand what "scuffs" mean without turning to the dic- 
tionary. Webster will give him no light on this 
point. The " scuff" was simply a vamp of russet 
sheepskin sewed to a sole shaped to a last. The 
wearer could put his foot in as far as the instep, 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 157 

and so "scuff" round the house when his ambition 
did n't rise high enough to make the needed exer- 
tion to put on a decent pair of slippers. When an 
old shoemaker had got down to making " scuffs " 
his career as an artist was about ended. 

It may as well be mentioned here as anywhere 
that some of the conditions existing in Lynn at that 
time broke the force of the overturn in business 
that followed the panic of '37. Lynn had not then 
outgrown its agricultural character. One of her 
newspapers, some fifty years ago, boasted that more 
hogs were raised in town than in any place in the 
vicinity. Whether this was true or not, every well- 
to-do shoemaker had his garden, and a pig-sty 
somewhere on the premises. This gave him pork 
and potatoes ; and if he could eke out this supply 
with a few groceries and a little flour, he could bid 
defiance to financial tempests, and if he had a toler- 
ably tight house to live in, he did n't care much for 
any other kind of a storm. In winter he could go 
clamming and eeling when the weather permitted, 
and if he had two or three cords of wood, split and 
piled up in the shed, he considered himself in easy 
circumstances. (Coal was then very little used in 
Lynn.) When the spring opened the horizon of 
his hopes expanded. Less clothing and fuel were 
needed. The clam-banks discounted more readily ; 
haddock could be got at Swampscott so cheap that 
the price was n't worth quoting. The boys could 



158 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

dig dandelions without any risk of being driven out 
of the yard. (There were not many yards then, 
as most of the houses were out of doors.) Then if 
the poor man had his little "spring pig" that he had 
kept through the winter, " pork and dandelions " 
were no small items in the bill of fare while " greens" 
lasted. 

But notwithstanding all the dandelions, and all 
the haddock, and all the clams, and all the other 
adjuncts that lessened the chances of starvation, 
the spring of 1837 opened with prospects gloomy 
enough. Many had leisure to attend to any matter 
of local or general interest ; and such an occasion 
arose when the Eastern Railroad Company an- 
nounced its purpose to build the railroad between 
Boston and Salem. 

The Eastern Railroad Company began operations 
in the fall of 1836. A railroad was then compara- 
tively a new thing. Absurd ideas were entertained 
as to the speed of locomotives. Some who had 
never seen one supposed that it would be impos- 
sible to ffet off the track in season to avoid the en- 
gine if it were anywhere in sight. The bustle and 
■ stir incident to starting the new enterprise in Lynn 
broke up the monotony of the dull season following 
the panic of the spring of 1837. Gangs of Irish 
laborers were set to work in several sections of the 
town along the line of the road, and their work was 
watched with a high degree of interest by the boys, 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 1 59 

and with hardly less interest by men of the largest 
size. Immigration on a large scale was then also 
a new thing, the first impetus being given to it by 
the great canal enterprises of New York and Penn- 
sylvania, some ten or fifteen years before, and in- 
tensified a little later by the railroad projects then 
in their infancy. The number of immigrants arriv- 
ing in the United States for the six years ending 
1836 averaged about 60,000 a year. There w'ere 
but twenty-three miles of railroad in the United 
States in 1830. In 1835 ^^^ ^^e lines in operation 
hardly reached eleven hundred miles. In 1850 
nine thousand miles had been built, the increase in 
the meantime showing that the number of miles 
constructed doubled each five years. 

So many men, and so many teams — and espec- 
ially so many three-wheeled carts — so many shov- 
els, and so many pick-axes, wielded by as many 
men working in the gravel pits, where the deep cuts 
were made through the high land ; so many inter- 
esting and amusing episodes arising from the va- 
rious work going on, all tended to enliven the sum- 
mer of that memorable panic year, if they did not 
add much to the pockets of the idle lookers-on. 
There was a good deal of gratuitous supervision 
given that year. Rows of men and boys sat along 
the banks on the sides of the " cut " without once 
thinking of charging the Eastern Railroad Com- 
pany a cent for their disinterested superintendence. 



l60 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Perhaps as good an idea of the simultaneousness 
of motion could be obtained from the way the 
shovels and pick-axes of these laborers dropped to 
the ground when the bell struck twelve, or when 
the signal was given to quit work at night ; and 
the way they scrambled up the slopes on their way 
to dinner exhibited a variety, if not the poetry, of 
motion. Three shanties were built on the south- 
west side of Green street, near the bridge. — on the 
northwest side — for the accommodation of the 
gangs of men at work on that section of the road — 
one for cooking, one for lodging, and one for an 
eating saloon. None of these edifices bore the 
slightest resemblance to any of the leading hotels 
of New England. The sums paid to architects for 
plans of these buildings were probably not large. 
They were not entirely air-tight, but had various 
openings that cut off all necessity for patent venti- 
lators. The diet furnished was simple, and no time 
was lost in making selections — corned beef, pota- 
toes, and flour bread, and tea made from a brand, 
to the writer unknown. As gunpowder tea was 
not much used at that time, and as the Emperor of 
China had not advertised the kind he used, it was 
probably neither of these grades. On Sundays 
large numbers would gather about these shanties to 
see how matters were conducted ; especially those 
who had no opportunity to note the progress made 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 161 

during the week. Some of these did not attend 
church regularly. 

The digging necessary in building the road 
tlirough the elevated land lying between the Cen- 
tral Station and Chatham street supplied a vast 
amount of gravel that raised the grade of several 
streets in the vicinity. Union street — till almost 
this time called Estes Lane — was one of those that 
put on a new appearance from that dav. Up to 
this time this road was one of the worst in town. 
It was then some three feet lower than its present 
grade, and in the spring of each year when the 
freshets came was half this depth, more or less, 
(and in spots considerably more,) under water, 
from the foot of Pearl street to Green street. Be- 
sides the hundreds of loads of gravel put upon the 
road at this point, a large amount was used to fill 
certain low lots on the northwest side, thus chancr- 
ing some worthless swamp land into valuable build- 
ing sites. The three-wheeled carts in which this 
gravel was carried were objects of special interest 
to the boys, as these, with horses attached, gave 
frequent occasions for amateur driving. These teams 
were loaded and sent in pairs, one following the 
other, the horses, from long training, knowing 
where to go, and what to do ; and the small bov 
marching by the side of the head horse felt the 
weight of his responsibilit}* more than the horse did 
his load of gravel. 
21 



l62 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

But the interest heightened to the spectators ■ 
seated on the banks, as well as to many others, 
when the shovels and pick-axes of the workmen 
struck against the formidable ledges lying just east 
of Green street. Blasting on a large scale had 
never before been done in Lynn. The sight and 
operation of the gigantic drills ; the immense quan- 
tities of powder used ; the scampering away to a 
safe distance when the signal was given that the 
fuse was about to be touched oft'; the moment of 
suspense while waiting for the charge to explode : 
the fragments of rocks flving into the air like rock- 
ets, or larger masses of rock forced through the 
covering, and thrown up above the top of the pit 
and burying themselves in the soft earth ; all this 
was an excitement and a diversion that relieved the 
tedium of many an idle hour when clam-digging, 
fishing, and berrying were not the more serious em- 
ployments of the long-to-be-remembered summer of 

1837- 

There was a good deal of gardening done in 
Lynn in the summer of 1S37. This was also true 
elsewhere. If this were a treatise on political econ- 
omy it would be proper to remark that this always 
takes place in periods of depressed trade. When 
business is driving in the various branches of manu- 
facturing industry the gardens and small lots of 
land are likely to be neglected. Ten thousand 
of these small parcels of land are brought under 



THE PANIC OF 1 83 7. 163 

cultivation in seasons of dull business, thus adding 
largely to the agricultural products of the nation. 
These products may make little show in census 
returns, but the}^ nevertheless, have a great signifi- 
cance. The writer has not at hand the industrial 
returns of the town of Lynn for that year ; but he 
feels confident in saying that more potatoes, more 
beans, more corn, more squashes, and other vege- 
tables, were planted, as well as more hogs raised, 
than for several years before. Uncle D.'s experi- 
ence illustrated the domestic economy of keeping a 
pig. On one occasion one of the financiers of the 
neighborhood undertook, by the following argu- 
ment, to prove to Uncle D. that pig-keeping was 
not profitable. ''You paid, Uncle D., five dollars 
for your pig when j^ou bought him ? " Uncle D. 
assented. "Now, in thirty weeks, from this time 
till Christmas, the pig will eat twenty bushels of 
meal ; that will cost fifteen dollars ? " Uncle D. 
again assented. " Now, there 's one dollar for two 
loads of seaweed, and a dollar for kilhng. That 
makes twenty-two dollars, and we 've reckoned 
nothing for the trouble of taking care of the pig. 
So you see your pig will cost you twenty-two dol- 
lars, with the risk of all accidents. Now, suppose 
he weighs two hundred and fifty pounds when vou 
kill him, (about a fair average,) and you get eight 
cents a pound for your pork (as much as you can 
expect) ; you will have but twenty dollars, and so 



164 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

you '11 lose tzuo dollars''' "Just so," said Uncle D. ; 
"but if I keep my pig till Christmas time, / shall 
have him. If I do n't, I shall not have him nor the 
money to buy o?ie ; and I shall be so much out." 
Uncle D.'s philosophy has a wide-spread applica- 
tion. The pig was his savings bank. 

Perhaps there never was a year when so much 
miserable trash called provisions was eaten in the 
town of Lynn as in the panic year of 1837. There 
also never was a time since the second war with 
Great Britain when such price was paid for any 
such stuff. Pork was eighteen to twenty cents a 
pound, and such pork ! The utmost impartiality 
was displayed in packing this pork. All parts 
pretty much went into the barrel, not excepting a 
good many bristles that ought to have gone to the 
brush-makers, and a good deal besides that never 
ought to have gone anywhere except, possibl}^ to 
the foot of a grape-vine. It is not surprising that 
Grahamism flourished a few years after this. One 
look into a barrel of this pork would make more 
Grahamites than a whole course of lectures. This 
pork was known by the euphonious and suggestive 
name of " rattlesnake pork," as the opinion more or 
less prevailed that the pigs were raised on that 
stimulating diet. The abundance of this reptile in 
some parts of the West, and the well-known ex- 
emption of the hog from all danger coming from 
the bite of this .venomous snake, probably lay at the 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 165 

foundation of this opinion. To this may be added 
the extreiaeh- social disposition of the hog when he 
found himself in the company of these graceful 
vermin. The reader may possibly infer that West- 
ern pork was not held in high esteem at that time. 
That inference is correct. This allusion to the diet of 
those dmes would not be complete without the men- 
don of the corollary of pork — beans. These, per- 
haps, had been round the "Horn," or experienced 
the rigors of an Arcdc winter, or the dessicating 
effect of a torrid climate, or most likely had borne 
all three of these geographical seasonings. They 
were sold for white beans. Some of them were 
white. Butter w^as something of a luxury in that 
memorable panic year. Not many could afford to 
eat it, and there w^as a good deal of it that nobody 
wanted to eat if he could afford it. This butter had 
several characteristics. It was miscellaneous in its 
appearance, in color ranging all the way from a 
lard-like whiteness to a yellow, suggesdve of the 
setdng sun. But its chief characterisdc was strength 
rather than beauty. Some of the wags used to al- 
lude to this kind of butter as a motive power in mov- 
ing buildings. Its price at this time kept pace 
both with its strength and beauty, though it did not 
reach such high figures as in after years. The ex- 
tremely high cost of provisions, occasioned by the 
scarcity arising from the short crops of the preced- 
ing year, intensified the hardships of the panic. An 



l66 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

apology was sometimes thought to be needed for 
indulging in any such luxuiy as butter. %In one of 
these periods of high prices Mr. I. called at a gro- 
cery store and inquired the price of this article. 
" Sixty cents a pound," was the answer. Mr. I. 
hesitated a moment, and then said, "77/ take a 
quarter of a pound, /"or sickness." 

A significant fact is brought out by comparing 
the retail prices of commodities at this period when 
the order system prevailed, with the wholesale 
prices as quoted in the Boston and New York 
markets. As an instance of this, the highest whole- 
sale price of superfine flour in Boston, as shown by 
the commercial record for the year 1837, was $9.50 
per barrel. It was sold as high as $2.20 by the 
quarter of a hundred, (28 pounds,) the old style 
denoting a quarter of a gross hundred, (112 pounds,) 
or one-seventh of a barrel of 196 pounds. This, it 
will be seen, was at the rate of $15.40 per barrel, 
and was not, probably, very stipe?-Jine in quality 
either. The prices of a list of articles could be given 
showing how wide was the gap between whole- 
sale cask prices and retail order prices : and the 
gap was still wider, probably, between these cash 
prices and the prices charged by the manufacturers 
who kept goods with which to supply their work- 
men. 

The order system — already treated upon in a 
former chapter — was spasmodic and irregular in 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 167 

its operation. In ''good times" cash was generally 
paid to "jours" and "binders " as far back as 1830. 
During the six years preceding the panic of 1837 
workmen were in great demand, and cash was gen- 
erally paid to those who demanded it. Perhaps the 
question will be asked, why did n't they all demand 
it? To fully answer this question would require a 
statement unfolding the idiosyncracies of individ- 
uals, a history of business at that period, and, in 
short, a complete microcosm of society as it then 
existed. It was understood that some preferred to 
take orders, giving as a reason that the "boss" 
would be more likely to keep them at work in dull 
times if they took orders for their labor when they 
might get cash. Another class had an account at 
the store. This account would run a month — 
sometimes three months — then an order would be 
drawn covering the whole amount. This looked 
like business : but the workman did n't see that this 
was like paying twenty per cent, interest — an im- 
mense drain upon his resources that kept hundreds 
like him poor without their knowing the reason 
why. He did not see that credit, when needless, 
was the bane of the poor man, leading him into ex- 
penditures he would not make if cash were to be 
drawn from the pocket when the purchase was 
made. Many did not tind out how bitter was their 
bondage to the system of orders and long credits 
until a fortunate experience of the cash system de- 



l68 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

livered them from the harassing burden of un- 
settled accounts, and made its indelible marks upon 
the pocket-book. 

This period — between 1831 and 1837 — did a 
great work in teaching the workingmen of Lynn 
the lesson that cash and short credits gave him 
more bread and less anxiety, and a better chance 
to lay by a few dollars for a rainy day. The growth 
of Lynn was never so rapid before as during these 
years. But when the crash came everything was 
changed. Orders took the place of cash to a great 
extent. Manufacturers traded off shoes for any 
sort of " truck " the}^ could get, and the workman 
was glad to get work, and take his pay in anything 
that would supply his wants, from a chip-hat to 
broken salt fish, or from " stoga '' shoes to " lantern " 
mutton that bore no sort of resemblance to the South 
Down variety seen in English markets. There 
was any quantity of shoes in the market which the 
owners were willing to exchange for any product 
made or raised in any part of the earth, or that 
came from any known sea. The shoe manufac- 
turers of Lynn had a large share of these shoes. 
By a sudden freak of fashion, more idiotic in its 
operation than the freaks of fashion usually are, the 
style of shoes changed from the extreme wide toes 
to the opposite extreme of a style running almost to 
a point. This left no room for the toes unless the 
shoes worn were two or three sizes longer than the 



THE PANIC OF 1 83 7. 1 69 

feet of the wearer. Till within the last few years, 
shoes were made — both men's and women's — 
without any reference to the anatomy of the human 
foot. They began to narrow just where the foot 
be^rins to widen, as though the direct intention w^as 
to produce a crop of corns, bunions, and protrud- 
ing joints. Shoes are now made (especially men's) 
with some reference to the shape of the foot. The 
civilization of the nineteenth centur}^ is wrestling 
with this problem, and it is to be hoped that brains 
will triumph. No apology is asked for this digres- 
sion — if it is one — as the writer considers this 
matter of more consequence to all concerned in the 
questions here treated than any topic falling in the 
direct line of this record. 

The manufacturers found these wide-toed shoes 
a drug in the market ; and they w^ere a drug be- 
cause they possessed the only good quality that 
could be urged in their favor — they w'ould not 
cramp the toes of the wearer. For this reason, 
mainly, they were carted from place to place, and 
transferred from hand to hand, until whatever*of 
beauty or comeliness they had was lost. Not one 
pair in ten, probably, ever reached their destined 
end as a covering for the human foot ; but on some 
bright, cool morning they doubtless eked out the 
fire in some retailer's or jobber's store, giving their 
odorous testimony that they had been sacrificed on 
the altar of a brainless fashion. It was necessary 
22 



lyO SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

to make a new departure in the style of shoes, and 
for several 3'ears we had ladies' shoes with toes 
running to a rounded point, exhibiting a fashion 
not much sillier than the Chinese styles seen in 
museums, and elsewhere. 

Business was thoroughly prostrated till the sum- 
mer of 1838. It then rallied, and Lynn had a short 
spurt of brisk trade which lasted hardly a year. 
The causes of the prostration were too deep, and 
run back too far to make any sudden cure possible. 
Politicians now took up the subject, and gave a 
diagnosis of the case that was perfectly satisfactory 
— to themselves. The administration was held re- 
sponsible for the hard times. " Two dollars a day 
and roast beef were promised to the workingmen 
if the " Hero of Tippecanoe "' should be elected 
President of the United States. 

As an evidence of the condition of the shoe busi- 
ness in Lynn in the years following the panic, the 
statistics of the leather trade miorht be cited as con- 
elusive testimony. In 1838 the leather on hand 
anti in process of tanning in New York was 1,009,- 
917 hides. In 1841 this had fallen to 541,600 sides, 
or about fifty per cent. Other kinds of business 
showed similar results. Things were in a grand 
condition to give the politicians who were out of 
office just the leverage they wanted. At the outset 
of the business troubles, political action was demand- 
ed to set the financial current the other way. To get 



THE PANIC OF 1837. I7I 

an intelligent appreciation of the notable campaign 
of 1840 it will be necessary to review, briefly, the 
political situation during the few preceding years. 
In July, 1836, President Jackson issued the famous 
"specie circular." This document instructed land 
agents to take nothing but specie in pay for public 
lands. This meant, simply, that government was 
to get something for these lands besides worthless 
paper. Speculators had been paying for them in 
" wild cat " currency issued from " coon-box banks," 
and the treasury already had more than it could use 
to any good purpose. Benton says that ten millions 
of this paper was on the way to the Land Office 
when the " specie circular " was issued. This, of 
course, put an end to a good deal of business ac- 
tivity — such as it was — inasmuch as it substituted 
money for worthless bank paper. Jackson had the 
sagacity to see how things were drifting. The 
crash came a few months after, and the adminis- 
tration was held responsible for all that happened, 
and also for continuing to reckon according to the 
rules of arithmetic. When Congress met in De- 
cember, it passed an act rescinding the "" specie cir- 
cular." The bill was sent to the President the day 
before the adjournment of Congress, but as he did 
not sign it the act was null, and the circular re- 
mained in full force. In the following March a 
committee was sent to Washington, who told the 
President — Van Buren, just then inaugurated — 



172 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

that the value of real estate had depreciated, within 
the last six months, more than $40,000,000 ; that 
within the last two months there had been more 
than two hundred and fifty failures, and that local 
stocks had declined $20,000,000. The trouble, 
they said, " was not to be laid to any undue exten- 
sion of mercantile enterprise, (of course not,) but 
to the ' specie circular,' and several other things." 
But they reported that the}^ could get nothing satis- 
factory from him. The President concluded to let 
the water run whichever way the slope set the cur- 
rent. This, of course, was not satisfactory to the 
politicians. 

The partial revival of business in 1838 run their 
capital stock down very low, but when the " bank 
crash " of 1839 came this stock went up again like 
a rocket. All the business troubles were laid at 
the door of the administration. The opposition to 
the President was of the fiercest kind. But it was 
too late to remedy matters then b}' an appeal to the 
people, as Van Buren was just elected. The break- 
down that came almost simultaneously with his in- 
auguration supplied the Whigs with texts and party 
war-cries until the election of Harrison in the Fall 
of 1840. 

The immediate cause of this second breakdown 
in 1839 "^^^ ^^^^ disturbance of our trade with Great 
Britain, arising from the short crops of that country 
in that and the preceding year. Extreme cold and 



THE PANIC OF 1837. 1 73 

excessive rains throughout England, Irehmd, and 
Scotland diminished agricultural products — espe- 
cially wheat — to a degree almost without parallel 
since the first years of the century. Wheat rose to 
a price it had not reached since 1816, and the 
quality was never so bad since that memorable 
year. This produced panic and financial distress 
in all the business centers of Great Britain, and the 
magnitude of our commercial relations, even then, 
wdth England brought the inevitable reaction to the 
United States. In October, 1839, ^^e Bank of the 
United States closed its doors, and a general bank 
suspension followed. This w^as the old government 
bank whose charter, expiring in 1836, Congress re- 
fused to renew. It then obtained a charter from 
the Legislature of Pennsylvania. This was the 
king bank of the country, and its influence upon 
business, and upon the financial legislation of that 
period, was very great. Unless history lies, it was 
engaged in a good many crooked transactions, be- 
ginning with obtaining its charter by bribery in the 
Pennsylvania Legislature. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 1840. 



LOG CABINS AND HARD CIDER. 

The campaign of 1840, therefore, opened richly. 
The makers of political song books reaped a harvest. 
Printers of hand-bills never did such a business be- 
fore. It v^^ould be more amusing than edifying to 
the reader if some of the minor incidents of this po- 
litical canvass were laid before him. The enthusi- 
asm of the Whicrs had never reached such heights. 
In 1836 they scattered their energies among three or 
four candidates, and .were, of course, defeated. Now 
the rallying cry from one end of the country to the 
other was " Tippecanoe and Tyler too." The great 
features of the campaign were " Hard Cider " and 
" Log Cabins." These were the indispensable ap- 
pendages of every political procession — a minia- 
ture log cabin, and behind it a barrel of hard cider, 
or a hard cider barrel. The tradition prevailed at 
the time that Gen. Harrison lived in a log cabin at 
North Bend, Ohio ; and it is not unlikely that some 
supposed he got into it by creeping on his hands 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 1 75 

and knees, or by stooping very low. Boys sang 
songs about the streets, and men got into fierce al- 
tercations in grocery stores, and at public places. 
These songs were not of the highest literary order, 
and they were not alwa3's sung in an artistic man- 
ner ; but all deficiencies were more than made up 
by the glow of enthusiasm and patriotism that 
showed itself in all possible ways by men and boys 
of all ages at all times of day or night. As one 
went along the street a juvenile chorus would in- 
quire in melodious accents, if not otherwise, 

■" Did you ever hear of the farmer that lived out in the West, 
Of all the men for President the wisest and the best?'* 

Or a refrain would be heard, the burden of which 
was that somebody was a ''used up man," and that 
the farmer aforesaid, or ''Tippecanoe," had some- 
thing to do in using him up — 

" O Van ! Van ! Van is a used up man ! 
And with him we '11 beat little Van." 

Those who had an eye to the main chance were 
ready to avail themselves of all this patriotic fervor, 
and miniature log cabins and cider barrels, emblem- 
atical and ornamental, were stuck on to everything, 
from a cane to a corn barn. It is said that one of 
our thrifty citizens laid the foundations of his fortune 
in the manufacture of canes, each of which was 
surmounted with one of these emblematical cider 



176 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

barrels two inches in length, and of proportionate 
circumference. 

But the enthusiasm rose hig-her than two-inch 
cider barrels, and even higher than bird-house log 
cabins on the ridge-poles of the tallest barns. A 
grand log cabin must be built large enough to ac- 
commodate the multitudes that might gather to hear 
the political orators that came from every corner 
of the Union to tell the people how Locofoco mis- 
rule had brought the countr}^ to the brink of ruin, 
and how the honest 3'eomanr3' of the land must rise 
in their might and deliver the nation from the mach- 
inations and intrigues of designing politicians and 
the selfish ambition of third-rate statesmen. One 
told the people how Jackson, and his administra- 
tion, had ruined the country by overthrowing the 
United States Bank. Another how the Tariff' of 
'32, with its sliding scale of duties, had prostrated 
the industry of the nation, and finally whelmed 
it in the financial gulf of 1S37, where it lay while 
our great commercial rivals held a jubilee over the 
ruins of the proud fabric of trade and commerce. 
And a third told how Price and Swartwout, and a 
host of minor defaulters, had plundered the treasury, 
and how the floods of official corruption were sweep • 
ing from the Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Elo- 
quence was more plentiful than corn that year. 

The log cabin was built by the side of the Eastern 
Railroad, on the land making part of the eastern 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. I77 

end of Harrison Court. It was built of pine boards 
rather than pine logs, the seats and platform of 
pretty much the same material, and the whole ar- 
rangement outside and inside wore a rural, if not a 
back-woods appearance. It was one hundred feet 
long, and sixty wide. A walk, or bridge, led from 
the railroad to the rostrum, or speaker's stand, for 
the accommodation of those who were to be honored 
with a seat on the platform. A door, or opening, 
on either side, about midway between the front and 
rear, admitted the audience, and gave ample means 
of egress in case of fire. But there was more danger 
from water than from fire. The roof was not abso- 
lutely water tight, and in case of a shower one 
could pick out a dry spot or go outside, just as he 
chose. It was lighted with a chandelier made from 
a pine tree. This was before illuminating gas was 
thought of in these parts, and the various burning 
fluids that preceded the introduction of kerosene 
oil had not yet taken the place of the tallow candle, 
or the lamp filled with whale oil. Cheap tin lamps 
adorned various parts of the cabin ; and when these 
were lighted the inside of this rural edifice had a 
unique and attractive appearance. The boys rev- 
eled on these occasions. Whether there w^as any- 
thing that reminded them of Aladdin's lamp, or 
an enchanted palace, is not definitely known ; but 
if to ten of them were given the choice to join the 
procession, and go to one of these patriotic gather- 
23 



lyS SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ings in the log cabin, or study his Sunda}-^ School 
lesson, nine of them, at least, would have gone to 
the cabin. 

x\fter all was ready it w^as dedicated on the 17th 
of August. Grand preparations were made. The 
cabin was crammed full, and overflowed in all di- 
rections. David Taylor was President of the Whig 
Club, and Leverett Saltonstall, the member of Con- 
gress from Essex South, was the orator of the occa- 
sion. The Whigs of Boston presented a banner to 
the Whigs of Lynn, and one of our prominent citi- 
zens, now living, the Hon. Thomas B. Newhall, 
responded in a " neat and appropriate speech of 
acknowledgment." A song from the Ward Five 
Glee Club was sung, and then the impatient audi- 
ence listened to an introductory address by Mr. 
Taylor, President of the Club. Mr. Taylor was a 
man of imposing presence, and his introduction of 
Mr. Saltonstall was performed in a manner just 
suited to the occasion ; and when he closed by say- 
ing, "I have the honor of introducing to you, my 
fellow-citizens, the Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, an 
old war horse, but brave and spirited as ever," the 
shouts of the excited multitude made the "welkin 
ring." The writer, though present, did not take 
notes of Mr. Saltonstall's speech, not supposing he 
would have occasion to use them, but the address 
was pronounced by high authority as every way 
worthy of the distinguished orator. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 179 

Soon after came the great Bunker Hill Conven- 
vention, September lo. This was one of the 
largest — probably the largest — political gather- 
ings ever seen in New England up to that period. 
The Boston Atlas gave the figures of the pro- 
cession. From the several counties within the 
State, 33,400. From other States, including cav- 
alcade, 12,550: making a total of 45,950. Lynn 
shone on that occasion. She mustered some five 
or six hundred, beside making a good show in the 
cavalcade. One paper said : 

" The great feature, however, was the Great Shoe 
from Lynn, mounted on wheels, drawn by six beautiful 
white horses. In the shoe were about twenty men." 

To which the Lynn Freeman added : 

'• We cannot avoid expressing the high gratification 
expressed by the company in the shoe at the manner of 
their reception throughout the whole route." 

From the newspaper accounts of the day this was 
one of the most enthusiastic, as well as the largest, 
political demonstrations that ever " tore the welkin 
to tatters " since the continent was inhabited. Ban- 
ners, flags, mottoes, emblems, every sort of political 
device, mechanical and marine, agricultural and 
allegorical, were seen along the line of the proces- 
sion, and as each met the eyes of a new throng of 
spectators vociferous cheers from thousands, and 



l8o SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

waggish comments from the few endowed with wit 
were heard until the caldron of excitement boiled 
over and ran down the sides. 

Political meteorology was of the most startling 
kind that year. There were no balmy zephyrs or 
gentle showers. There was nothing tamer than an 
earthquake during the campaign. Torrents, torna- 
does, and avalanches were monthly occurrences, if 
they did not happen more frequently. There was 
a good deal of thunder rolling over the prairies, 
and lightning flashed from every quarter of the 
political horizon. Gunnery, and especially artillery 
practice, was largely called upon for metaphors. 
x\s early as March was heard the " First Gun from 
Illinois." Then in " unterrified Connecticut " was 
seen the "first dawning of the Sun of Austerlitz." 
Soon after we were called upon to note the " Pro- 
gress of the Storm in Ohio." Then "the Old 
Dominion speaks in Thunder." Then all eyes were 
directed to the Baltimore National Convention to 
behold every sort of phenomena ever seen in 
political meteorology. Voices echoed, torrents 
roared, the rushing sound of the Mississippi waters 
mingled with every breeze that " swept over the 
plains of the South." We were invited to listen to 
all kinds of noises in every part of the land. Balti- 
more w^as the focus of all these noises. The North 
shouted to the South ; the East called to the young 
West. Besides this there was music by several 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 181 

bands, and a number of guns were fired. Our dis- 
tinguished fellow-citizen, the late Alonzo Lewis, 
wrote a song for the occasion, beginning — 

" Here's health to the Freeborn and health to the Brave ; 
We will chant the bold Pean o'er mountain and wave." 

There was considerable more of it, but they prob- 
ably had n't time to sing it. Next came the Fourth 
of July ; all over the United States were seen pro- 
cessions and log cabins, cider barrels and stuffed 
coons, and a repetition, on a small scale, of pretty 
much everything that had been heard and seen at 
Baltimore. Then was heard the "Fourth peal of 
Harrison Thunder from Louisiana." The August 
elections then came, and they were introduced as 

THE TORNADO. 

This tornado swept through a dozen States, and 
a small breeze had no chance for a show. Occa- 
sionally a writer would drop from meteorology into 
sociology — as Silas Wegg dropped into poetry — 
and then the heading would be, "The Progress of 
the Revolution." But this was generally too tame. 
The public appetite had been fed so long on whirl- 
winds and cataracts that a less stimulating diet 
failed to keep up the tone of the system, and so 
when it came to Ohio, the home of "Old Tip," 
nothing short of a tenth part of a million earth- 



l82 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

quakes was sufficient to express the struggling 
emotions of the editor as he announced to his 
readers the result of the ballot box. " A hundred 
thousand earthquake-shouts for the gallant Buck- 
eyes," was the reasonable call he made upon them, 
and it is to be supposed that the explosion came 
oft' — such as it was. 

The proceedings of the second meeting in the 
Log Cabin were not fully reported by the Whig 
press — in fact, were not reported at all, as their 
columns clearly showed. The doings of that gath- 
erinpf are, therefore, left to tradition, a somewhat 
uncertain guide, or to the still more unreliable 
accounts given in the exaggerated reports by polit- 
ical opponents. As there was no special reason 
why these political opponents should be reticent, 
there was something^ more than an allusion to, and 
an incidental comment upon, a meeting whose fea- 
tures were rather extraordinary, even in that extra- 
ordinary campaign. But there are many men now 
living — both Whigs and Democrats at that time — 
who have a vivid remembrance of the incidents and 
accidents, the episodes and adjuncts, of that mem- 
orable evening. A distinguished speaker had been 
invited from a distant State. According to expla- 
nations afterwards given, the exhaustive labors of 
an exciting campaign had impaired his health, and 
recent efforts in addressing large multitudes had 
given his voice, naturally clear and sonorous, a 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 18 



v) 



hoarseness and huskiness ill-suited to oratory. Be- 
sides this, a temporary illness had unfitted him for 
the arduous labors and excitement incident to a 
political meeting in those stormy times. To meet 
the exigencies of the occasion, certain stimulus was 
given — a more common treatment then than now, 
though not entirely unknown at the present day. 
But this did not meet the exigency. On the con- 
trary, it increased the huskiness of voice, disturbed 
the logical order of thought, and the coherence of 
ideas. It was plain that the speaker was not in a 
condition to clearly unfold a principle of constitu- 
tional law, or to follow the windings of an intricate 
question of bank or tariff. When the hour arrived, 
the Whigs were not slow in apprehending the situ- 
ation, and the few " Locos " present were not a whit 
behind them in taking in all the peculiar features 
of the case. A few ineffectual attempts at speech 
on the part of the speaker revealed the situation too 
clearly for anybody to misunderstand. The Whigs, 
not knowing what further demonstrations might be 
made, quietly withdrew, and might have been seen 
going home in all directions, but generally by the 
shortest route. But the " Locos " did not seem to 
regard it as lost time. To them it was an enter- 
tainment unprecedented in its attractions, and they 
seemed in no hurry to leave. By some unac- 
countable system of telegraphy the Democrats, who 
had no idea of attending a Whig meetmg that 



184 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

evening, got wind of the affair, and soon the ample 
space made by the receding forms of the Whigs 
was filled with interested spectators who never voted 
a Whig ticket in all their lives. If not a sympa- 
thetic audience it certainly was not an indifferent 
one. They encouraged the speaker in all possible 
w^ays. They called him by his Christian name, 
and also by his family name. They designated 
him by the name of his native State, applauded all 
his efforts, and showed him ever}' possible atten- 
tion. A few ineffectual attempts on the part of the 
speaker resulted in nothing better than certain inco- 
herent utterances, showing that the flesh was 
weaker than the spirit. There never was a better 
suited set than those " Locos," who seemed so anx- 
ious to get instructed in Whig politics. The next 
issue of their organ, the Record^ gave a graphic 
description of this meeting, which more than made 
amends for the reticence of the Whig journal. In 
shoemakers' shops, and w^herever there was a con- 
genial crowd, this event furnished a fruitful topic 
for jokes and comments for a long time after ; and 
when it was no longer new, it became embalmed as 
a reminiscence to be called up whenever the exi- 
gencies of political discussion seemed to demand an 
unusual draft upon party history. 

The next address at the Cabin was by Daniel 
Webster, on the i6th of September. It is needless 
to say that the audience got something worth listen- 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 185 

ing to. It was a calm, dispassionate review of the 
political situation, characterized by that dignity and 
absence of all personal invective which marked all 
the efforts of this distinguished statesman. 

Caleb Gushing was the speaker at the fourth 
gathering at the Log Cabin, October 5th. Mr. 
Cushing was then in the prime of early manhood, 
and already gave promise of that transcendent 
scholarship and mastery of political science that 
afterwards placed him in the front rank of Ameri- 
can diplomatists and statesmen. His masterly 
analysis of the great questions then dividing the 
two great parties — and especially that of finance — 
was a performance worthy the attention of either 
Whig or Democrat ; but on the whole it gave much 
better satisfaction to the Whigs than to the Demo- 
crats. Before this address was finished, an episode 
occurred that had no bearing upon any one of the 
great questions discvissed during the evening. A vile 
compound, prepared, it was said, at an apothecary's 
not a mile away, was brought into the cabin by 
parties unknown. This turned the whole current 
of thought away from the great questions under 
consideration ; for no logic or eloquence could stand 
for a moment in the face of that villainous smell. 
The speaker saw that something attracted the atten- 
tion of the audience, and more than likely had other 
evidence besides his eyesight, and the chairman 
saw it, too, and more than saw it, and came to the 
24 



l86 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

rescue. " These, fellow-citizens," said Mr. Taylor, 
" are the fumes of Locofocoism, and they will soon 
pass away." But they did n't pass away — at least 
for some time. That was not a presence to be 
waved off with a flourish of rhetoric, or a bland 
invitation to leave. This outrage, which was 
littinfflv denounced at the time, wives some idea of 
the amenities of politics in those days. And yet 
there are some people who would like to go back 
to old times. Order was at last restored, and in a 
good degree the normal condition of the air inside 
the cabin, whose ventilation was ample. It may be 
proper to mention here that no expense was in- 
curred in making this cabin air-tight ; but in order 
to secure abundant ventilation, and for the free ad- 
mission of wind, heat, cold, dust, moonlight and 
sunlight, the sides were left open near the top. 
Along this opening a row of boys' heads might 
have been seen upholstering the space below the 
eaves, so that this outside gallery made a conspicu- 
ous addition to the audience which, on one occa- 
sion, called forth high eulogy /rom one of the 
orators. "Here," said he, "we not only see this 
spacious cabin filled with enthusiastic Whigs, but 
the roof covered zvith boys, peering through the 
cracks:" Probably neither Mr. Gushing, nor any 
of his audience, had any idea that in a few years 
he would lead a regiment into Mexico in support 
of a war more fiercely denounced by the Whig 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 187 

party, and all its great leaders, than any measure 
that had divided the nation since the war of 1812. 
After this it was not strange that he received the 
Democratic nomination for Governor in 1848. 

Two more meetings were held in the cabin before 
the election — one, Monday evening, October 12th, 
addressed b}' Franklin Dexter, of Boston, the next 
on the Thursday evening following, when the Hon. 
Daniel P. King, of Danvers, was the speaker. 
The cabin was crowded to hear the honorable 
gentleman, who was a favorite in Lynn. Mr. 
King, though not a man of commanding talents, 
had high qualities to recommend him. He never 
indulged in personalities, was a man of spotless in- 
tegrity of character, and especially esteemed for 
the urbanitv of his manners, and his genial social 
qualities. 

THE DEMOCRATIC PAVILION OF 184O. 

The Democratic Pavilion occupied the lot near 
the east corner of Union and Exchange streets, 
nearly opposite Almont street. This neighbor- 
hood wore a very different aspect then from what 
now appears. The first Eastern Railroad Station 
was built about two years before. It was not noted 
for the amplitude of its accommodations, or the 
elegance of its design. Models of this structure 
were never seen in any gallery of art, nor are any 



l88 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

designs showing its elaborateness or uniqueness, or 
whatever other novelty it possessed, preserved in 
any manual of architecture. Between this station 
and the old Silsbee estate, which included tlie land 
on Union street now covered in part by the New- 
hall Block, there was no building near the front 
line. From this front line the land rose to quite a 
hill, at the top of which stood the house of Nathan 
Alley, facing Exchange street. In front of the 
house was a well, with an old-fashioned "sweep," 
such as is sdll occasionally seen. Doubdess many 
who read these pages will recall this old well, and 
with it the familiar lines of Woodworth, who, prob- 
ably, had just such a well as this in his mind's eye 
when he wrote — 

"The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, 
The moss-covered bucket which hung in the welL" 

This well-sweep could be seen all over " Black 
Marsh ; " for the territory between this point and 
the sea — extending from Nahant street, on the 
east, to Munroe street on the west, now thickly 
covered with buildings of every description — then 
contained only a few scattering dwellings, and a 
few still more scattering stores and small factories, 
dotted here and there with a shoemaker's shop. 
This hill, which was soon after leveled, furnished 
a large amount of excellent material for roads ; but 
before it was leveled its slope made a very conven- 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. 189 

ient site for the Democratic Pavilion, whose rear 
extended to within a few rods of the top of the hill. 
The seats graduall}' rising one above another gave 
it a somewhat amphitheatre appearance. But this 
was the only respect in which this pavilion bore the 
slightest resemblance to the renowned amphithea- 
tres of Greece and Rome, not to mention the famous 
edifices of other ancient nations. There is prob- 
ably no document extant giving the dimension of 
this pavilion. The writer did not measure it, being 
too young at the time to consider the question as to 
the probable interest posterit}^ might have in know- 
ing its length and breadth ; but he is inclined to 
the opinion that it was equal in size to the log cabin 
of the Whigs. It was built of pretty much the 
same sort of lumber, and it may interest some to 
know that shortly after, the stock was used in the 
construction of the Sagamore Hall Building, now^ 
occupying part of the same lot — a structure de- 
scribed at the time as a "splendid hall." 

The first addresses given in the Pavilion were by 
George Bancroft, the historian, and Amasa Walker. 
At this meeting a string of thirteen resolutions was 
adopted, and a vote of thanks to these gentlemen 
for " their eloquent addresses." i\t this meeting 
several boys — some of them probably of large 
size — made a " powwow " outside the pavilion 
singing " hard cider songs," which called out a 



190 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

pleasant remark from Mr. Bancroft about that sort 
of "Whig argument." 

The second address was deHvered by Robert 
Rantoul, Jr. A large crowd gathered to hear him, 
but not all were able to do so for want of room. 
Mr. Rantoul was a great favorite with the Demo- 
crats. He was then a 3'Oung man of thirty-five, 
but had already laid the foundation which, in after 
years, inade him one of the leading statesmen of 
the land. Few men have the power of statement 
that he possessed, and fewer still that unwearied 
industry that sifted to the bottom every question 
that he handled. Nothing escaped him. Like 
Pitt, he had whole rows of figures at his command, 
and his mastery of details was equaled only by the 
clearness and logical order of his statements. The 
Whigs disposed of him by calling him "Bobby." 
Now and then an ambitious young Whig would 
offer to test the temper of his blade by proposing to 
cross lances with Mr. Rantoul upon some question 
of bank or tariff. 

On the. 23d of September there was a "mighty 
gathering" in the pavilion to hear Benjamin F. 
Hallett's reply to Mr. Webster. According to the 
Democratic journal some fifteen hundred people 
assembled to hear Mr. Hallett " expose the sophis- 
tries and fallacies " of his distinguished opponent 
" in a manner that carried conviction to all reason- 
able minds.'" Mr. Webster did not reply to this. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 184O. I9I 

No reason was ever given for this reticence. In all 
these gatherings there was the usual attendance of 
boys. A good many boys turned Whig during 
this campaign. Early in the season there seemed 
to be unmistakable signs that the tide of victory 
was setting in favor of the " hero of Tippecanoe," 
the youngsters judging by the ostentatious demon- 
strations — the log cabins, the songs and hurrahs, 
the glare of torchlight processions, the blare of 
brass bands, and all accompanying noises. A good 
many larger boys went the same way for the same 
reason. 

The next address was given b}' Albert Smith, of 
Maine, October 15th. Mr. Smith was a pithy, 
magnetic speaker, and this meeting was one of the 
most enthusiastic held during the campaign. The 
Democratic journal of the da}" alluded to this occa- 
sion in the following inspiring and eloquent manner : 

" The single-hearted, hard-handed sons of toil were 
there firm as the rocks of onr iron-bonnd shores. Like 
them will they meet and roll baciv the surges of federalism 
that are threatening to overthrow them." 

There was a great deal more as good as this. 
It was amusing to hear the clear tones in which the 
Democrats whistled to keep up their courage long 
after the verdict had been rendered beyond hope of 
reversion. The August elections had practically 
settled the matter. But a month later the Demo- 



ig2 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

cratic paper had the following encouraging and 
classical extract : 

" Well, whistle on, my good fellows. Put your trust 
in log cabins as the Ro7na)is did in their wooden horse 
and all may yet go well." 

This Roman wooden horse was probably of the 
same pedigree as the old " Trojan " horse. The 
" stock," as the shoemakers would say, was pretty 
much the same. 

The next meeting at the pavilion was on October 
22d. Bradford Sumner, of Boston, was the speaker. 
Mr. Sumner was the candidate for Congress of the 
Suffolk Democracy, a man of talents, and one that 
never descended to low tricks or calumnious utter- 
ances. His manner was calm and dignified, and 
the matter of his addresses was worthy the atten- 
tion of his audiences. 

Mr. Rantoul spoke again in the pavilion, in the 
afternoon of November 6th, and in the evening of 
the following day addresses were made by Albert 
Smith, and John P. Hale, of New Hampshire. Mr. 
Hale was always a popular speaker. His irrepres- 
sible good humor and rollicking wit made him a 
capital campaign orator. After he had taken his 
stand before an audience nobody wanted to hear 
the band play, for there was more music in one of 
his speeches than could be got out of three or four 
bands. It was this talent which, when in after 



THF CAMPAIGN OF 184O. I93 

years he stood as one of the great leaders of wliat 
seemed the forlorn hope of the anti-slaver}- move- 
ment in the United States Senate, enabled him to 
turn the assaults of his opponents, and disarm the 
bitterness of rancorous debate, and set that august 
bod}' into a roar of laughter. 

This ended the meetings at the pavilion. Not 
all the wit, nor all the eloquence that the Democ- 
racy was able to command throughout the length 
and breadth of the land, could roll back the tide 
that bore the Whig party on to victory. The defeat 
was utter and overwhelming. Nothing like it was 
ever known in the history of presidential contests. 
Van Buren carried but seven States — Alabama, 
Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, 
South Carolina, and Virginia — and received but 
sixty out of two hundred and ninety-four electoral 
votes. And so ended the memorable campaio-n of 
1840. 



25 



THE OLD SILSBEE STREET DEBATING 
CLUB. 



This club, so celebrated in our local history, was 
organized in, or near, the fall of 1841. The record 
of its organization is lost, or at least a somewhat 
diligent inquiry has failed to bring it to light ; but 
very satisfactory evidence has been obtained by the 
writer, showing that the beginning of its history 
was near the time above mentioned. The journal 
of the club, now in his possession, goes back to 
January of the year 1S43, and the list of officers for 
that year is given as follows: Curators — D. H. 
Barlow, James N. Buffum, Benjamin F. Mudge ; 
Treasurer — Isaac B. Cobb ; Secretaries — Asa T. 
Newhall, Benjamin F. Mudge. The name of the 
President is not given, but it appears from allusions 
in the minutes that James P. Boyce occupied that 
position at that time. No complete list of the mem- 
bers is given in these records, and the following 
roll is probably defective in the omission of a few 
names which at some time in the history of the 
institution added to its usefulness, or shed luster 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 195 

upon its fame : George Hood, James N. Buftum, 
James P. Boyce, George W. Keene, George Foster, 
William X. Munroe, George W. Mudge, Daniel C. 
Baker, Stephen N. Breed, Abraham Pray, Thomas 
J. Pinkham, Dr. E. A. Kittredge, Isaac B. Cobb, 
Gustavus Attwill, Perry Newhall, Darius Barrv, 
James Merrill, Jesse Hutchinson, William Bassett, 
Ebenezer Hussey, Nathan D. Chase, William A. 
Clough, Joseph M. Fuller, Addison Davis, Edwin 
Jetireys, William D. Chamberlain, Dr. Daniel 
Perley, Plummer Chesley, H. M. Woods, Thomas 
Stacey, Joseph Smithurst, Ezra Baker, Elbridge 
Lovejoy, Warren Jewett, Oliver Porter, Henrv 
Clapp, Thomas Chrystal, James M. Usher, Oliver 
H. Swain, Caleb Alden, Joshua Patch, Hiram A. 
Tenney, Caleb M. Long, Nathaniel Brown. 

A list of questions preserved in the journal of the 
societ}^ shows that the discussions took a wide range. 
Metaphysics, political economy, social science, 
party questions, physiology, temperance, and more 
especially the great question of slavery, which was 
then looming above the nation's horizon, and en- 
gaging the attention of North and South in angry 
controversy, and which ended a quarter of a century 
later through the shock of a gigantic war, were dis- 
cussed, and probably settled to the satisfaction of 
some, both members and spectators. But what- 
ever the decision of the question might be, the 
debate itself rarelv failed to edifv and amuse — 



196 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

though a rigid regard for truth would compel the 
declaration that the ratio of amusement was some- 
times largely in excess of the edification. 

The following are a few of the multitude of ques- 
tions discussed, but nothing except an actual atten- 
dance upon the debates can give any idea of the 
ranije the discussions took : 

'' Has the Drama been a benefit to mankind?" 

" Is the multipHcity of Newspapers in our country 
beneficial ? " 

" Is the Constitution of the United States a pro-slavery 
document.'' " 

" Is Man capable of self-government.'' " 

" Is the Christian Sabbath, so-called, of human or 
Divine origin ? " 

" Would it be expedient to abolish Capital Punish- 
ment in this State.'"' 

" Has a person a right to get married in the present 
state of civilization .'' " 

" Is it expedient to dissolve tlie Union of the Ameri- 
can States ? " 

• 

The writer would like to give a few pen-and-ink 
sketches of these debates. He was generally there, 
and can recall much pertaining to the regular pro- 
ceedings, and more especially there remain im- 
printed on his memory the salient points — the inci- 
dents and episodes that painted in glowing colors 
the characteristics of members — and which gave 
to these discussions an interest that attracted spec- 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. I97 

tators from far and near. But he is writing too 
near the scene of action to invest the portraits with 
the garb of personality, though posterity — not a 
ver}' remote posterity — may have occasion to re- 
gret the scruples that too often, perhaps, deprive 
the world of much that it would like to know^ 

When one of these characteristic debates was ex- 
pected to come off, the vestry of the Silsbee Street 
Church was packed to overflowing, to witness a 
display that combined more elements of interest 
than are usually crowded into an evening's enter- 
tainment. As many of the present generation do 
not know where these debates took place, and as 
posterity will know nothing at all about it unless 
somebod}^ records the fact, the writer would say 
that these meetings were held in the vestry of the 
Christian Church, near the railroad bridge, on the 
north-east side of Silsbee street. This vestry, which 
was long used as a voting-room for Ward Four, has 
undergone several changes since the days of the 
old club. 

The presiding officer did not attempt to confine 
debate within the strict limits of the terms of the 
question, but allowed a freedom that gave full scope 
to the genius, or learning, or oddities, of the sev- 
eral members. It was a treat to attend one of these 
debates. Not that great genius was often displa}' ed. 
Not that great learning attracted the listeners with 
a show of erudition ; tor this was rarer still ; (the 



ip8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

writer remembers but two collegiates among the 
members;) but they were a set of men for whom 
the common school had done its usual work — 
though in some cases even this aid had been very 
slicrht — sharp, earnest men for the most part, with 
all their faculties on the alert. Many of them had 
risen from the shoemaker's seat, and not a few even 
then worked at the time-honored craft. It was a 
time when the shoemaker's shop was a center of 
instruction, where questions of every kind were 
canvassed. It was a time when the daily news- 
paper had already for some years done its peculiar 
work in educating the people on a broader scale 
than schools or colleges can reach. Each shop 
was an incipient debating club. Here were often 
found together Whig and Democrat, Abolitionists 
and Third Party men, each ready to throw dow^n 
the gauntlet of debate, and eager for a tussle over 
some question of church or State, of national or of 
local politics. One would read the newspaper, the 
others would follow with comments of approval or 
dissent. Now a ringing paragraph would call 
forth a burst of applause from one side and a fierce 
denunciation on the other. It is not strange that 
these members came to the meetings of the club 
charged with the preparation they had received 
from the informal discussions of the workshops. 
But they were not all shoemakers. Here were 
ambitious politicians, rising young lawyers, and 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. I99 

doctors of medicine ; and now and then a doctor of" 
divinity was there as a Hstener, and sometimes as 
a participant. As might be expected, the shoe 
manufacturer, or ''boss," was fully represented 
here. Accordingly, questions of business or com- 
merce, and all political measures having a bearing 
upon the trade and industries of the country, were 
considered and sifted — taritl', banks, internal im- 
provements, machinery, all passed through the 
ordeal of examination and criticism. Now and 
then one of the members run to statistics. Perhaps 
he was a tariti' or an anti-tarilT man. When that 
question was up he would come in bristling with 
figures. He would give the scale of duties under 
the tarifl' of '24, which Webster did n't favor, and 
the scale under the tarifl^of '28, which Webster did 
favor. He would show how the sliding scale of 
the tariff' of '32 worked, and if he w'as a fierce 
Whig he 'd tell you that the salvation of the country 
depended upon the passage of the tariff' bill of '42, 
which just then was agitating the nation from one 
end to the other. 

The Whig element in the club was large and 
influential. That party, so lately flushed with 
the victory that crowned the campaign of 1840 — 
the " hard cider " and " log cabin " campaign — 
w^hich ended in the election of Gen. Harrison (who 
died within a month of his inauguration), was now 
staggering beneath the blows given to Whig policy 



200 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

by his successor, John Tyler.' His veto of the 
Bank Bill, a measure promptly passed by a Whig 
Congress, spread dismay through the ranks of the 
victorious party ; but the dismay was soon for- 
gotten in the exultation that followed the passage 
of the high tariff of '42. If there was anything else 
wanting to give zest to political discussions, the 
slavery question, which, even at that day, agitated 
the whole nation, was beginning to organize itself 
for political action. The leading Whigs of the club 
were George Foster, George W. Keene, Gustavus 
Attwill, Ebenezer Hussey, George W. Mudge, 
Isaac B. Cobb and Daniel C. Baker. The Demo- 
crats made the following showing : George Hood, 
Asa T. Newhall, William A. Clough, William 
V. Munroe, Plummer Chesley, Caleb M. Long, 
Thomas J. Pinkham, William D. Chamberlain 
and Joseph Smithurst. Others there were with 
either Whig or Democratic antecedents, but whose 
party ties had been somewhat loosened. These 
afterwards found themselves in the ranks of the 
Third Party, or doing valiant service under the 
banner of Anti-Slaver}^ The Abolition wing of 
the party was led — if it was led by anybody — by 
James N. Buffum. Perhaps none of his intrepid 
compeers would wish to deprive him of that honor. 
But the Anti-Slavery army at that time was one in 
which there was not much quarreling about rank, 
as the honors that came from successful leadership 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 20I 

were too far in the distance to influence the ambi- 
tion of manv. And so were seen standing bv Mr. 
B.'s side James P. Boyce — both with Qiiaker ante- 
cedents — Jesse Hutchinson, Addison Davis, Henry 
Clapp and Dr. E. A. Kittredge. Besides these 
there were others, less prominent as debaters, but 
equally decided in their convictions. 

Here were seen all styles of oratory, botii of man- 
ner and matter — the spread-eagle, the pump- 
handle, the angular, the stock-still, and the grind- 
stone styles. Besides these there was a miscella- 
neous or compound style, combining a variety of 
motions and gestures which it would take a long 
string of geometrical terms to exemplify. One of 
these orators would arise, and the expression on his 
face would seem to intimate that the world was his 
audience, and his forum all the dry land on the 
planet. With one hand gracefully lifted toward 
the west, and the other toward the east, he seemed 
equally willing to speak a good word for both hemi- 
spheres, and appeared on equally familiar terms 
with the setting sun and the Atlantic ocean. One 
of these orators was holding forth in this place 
about the time to which this record refers. Just 
as one of the audience left the vestry, he was met 
at the door by a friend, who inquired — "Who's up 
now?" "Oh, H. has got the floor." "What's he 
talking about?" "Well, zvhen I came out he was 
staving a 7'ainbow to -pieces." One v/ould end a 
26 



202 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

very emphatic sentence by standing on his toes ; 
as much as to say, '' If that is n't about right I 'd 
like to know it." Another would double up his fist 
and project it with great force in a direct line in 
front of him, making it exceedingly dangerous to 
any person within reach. Another had a motion 
like one turning a grindstone, with both hands hold 
of the crank. Still another astonished the listener 
with exhibitions of the explosive style, going off in 
spasmodic eruptions, whose force was measured by 
the steam generated in the debate. 

By very general consent Mr. Hood was the ac- 
knowledo-ed leader of the Democratic forces. He 
was then in the prime of early manhood, an active 
and sagacious man of business, of large, general in- 
formation, and a man of decided convictions. He 
was a thorough believer in the principles and gen- 
eral policy of the party to which he gave his sup- 
port. The high positions with which he was then, 
and afterward, honored by his fellow-citizens were 
a reco^rnition of his talents and his administrative 
abilities. He had already been repeatedly elected 
to the Legislature — a member of the House — and 
was elected to the Senate in 1843. In 1846 he was 
Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. 
He was the first Mayor of the city, (1850,) and was 
honored with a re-election the following 3'ear. In 
1852 he was nominated for a seat in Congress, but 
was not elected. In 1853 he was chosen a mem- 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 2O3 

ber of the convention for revisincr the Constitution 
of the State. How much he was indebted to the 
training which the old Silsbee Street Debating 
Chib gave him is a question that no man can an- 
swer : but no one acquainted with the facts would 
question the value of its influence. Mr. Hood was 
an uncompromising opponent of all tariffs. He be- 
lieved the}' were monopolies, anti-democratic in 
principle, and pernicious in their influence upon the 
industrial interests of the country, and the welfare 
of the masses. In debate Mr. Hood was an ani- 
mated and interesting speaker. He had a ready 
command of language, a rapid utterance, and was 
somewhat vehement in his manner. Mr. Hood 
came to these debates armed with facts and figures, 
and his methodical manner, his mastery of details, 
and his skill in handling his subject made him a 
formidable opponent. 

The leadership on the Whig side cannot be so 
clearly assigned to a single member. By general 
consent the palm of-oratory would have been award- 
ed to Ebenezer Hussey. In this respect he stood 
without a rival in the club ; at least this seems to 
have been the verdict of history, as shown by a 
certain poetical effusion, in which he was styled the 
"Demosthenes of L3'nn." But for general talent 
in debate there were others on all sides of the house 
his equal or his superior. 

On the tariff question perhaps the chief opponent 



204 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



of Mr. Hood's was Gustavus Attwill — usually 
known as " Major," as his father was before him. 
Like most of the members, Mr. Attwill learned the 
art of shoemaking in his youthful days. His edu- 
cation was such as the common schools could give 
him : but he improved his limited advantages by 
reading and independent investigation. He was as 
decided a Whig as Mr. Hood was a Democrat, and 
when the tariff' question came up — or any similar 
question — there was generally a set-to between 
these champions. Mr. Attwill was an energetic 
speaker, delivering his opinion in a positive and 
fearless manner. He formed his conclusions delib- 
erately, but never budged an inch from a position 
once taken. He impressed his audience that he 
was uttering his honest convictions, and whether 
his hearers agreed or disagreed with his conclu- 
sions, they gave him the respectful hearing which 
sincerity and courage always command. He usually 
came to these discussions prepared for the business 
in hand, and ready to follow the line of argument, 
however erratic its course, and at whatever tangent 
it might run. 

Hardly less decided in their convictions of the 
soundness of Whig policy, and none the less ready 
to rush into any breach to defend it, were Messrs. 
Foster, Cobb, and G. W. Mudge. Mr. Foster was 
one of the shrewdest debaters whose talents gave 
prominence to this society. He had received a 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 205 

good education ; had been fitted for a teacher's 
profession, and then held the position of master in 
one of our public schools. He was, at this time, 
about thirty years of age. It is somewhat difficult 
to tell whether Mr. Foster was more formidable 
in making an attack than when acting on the de- 
fensive. He made assaults upon the most unex- 
pected points, and conducted his line of defense 
with such skill and originality that his opponents 
could not even guess the extent of his fortifications. 
If an enlarged experience, and a riper culture, en- 
abled him, in later 3'ears, when discussing some 
nice point of parliamentary law, to go back more 
readily to the time of Henry the Second, he could, 
at that early day, go back as far as was necessary 
to establish any point in history, even if a draft 
upon a remote antiquity had been needed to meet 
the wants of the occasion ; and if it was needful 
to give a general chronological survey antedating 
the pyramids for a starting point, he could pursue 
it leisurely enough, and meander here and there 
sufficiently on the way down, to swamp any oppo- 
nent either by the multiplicity of details or the 
length of time consumed in the narration. 

If there was one member who, more than another, 
took an interest in all the concerns of the club, and 
who showed his interest by the constancy of his 
attendance, and his readiness to do his full share of 
work, it was Isaac B. Cobb. Mr. Cobb came to 



2o6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Lynn from Methuen about the year 1835. His 
early education was extremely limited, the woods 
of Maine, where he spent his early days, not afford- 
ing very ample facilities in the way of public schools. 
He established himself as a shoe manufacturer, and 
was noted throughout the town for the taste he 
showed in the styles of the boots and shoes he 
manufactured, and more especially for the honest 
quality of his goods. Mr. Cobb took a lively in- 
terest in all local and public matters, and was always 
ready to express his opinion upon the policy of any 
line of action, whether town. State, or national. 
He had full confidence in the soundness of his 
opinions, and expressed himself with an assurance 
that convinced the listeners of his sincerity, what- 
ever the force of the logic might be upon the minds 
of the audience. Mr. Cobb was not a wide reader, 
but he kept himself tolerably informed upon current 
topics ; and when this club was formed, or soon 
after, he became one of its most active members. 
Mr. Cobb kept a sharp lookout for breaches of 
parliamentary law. His prompt and emphatic " I 
call the gentleman to order" was often the signal 
for a discussion, or a "running fire" upon points of 
order that was often amusing, and sometimes in- 
structive. Cushing's Manual had not then made 
its appearance, and "Jefferson's Manual," the only 
authority at the time, was then a very scarce book 
in town ; but some of the members had been to the 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 207 

Legislature, which often led to a large display of 
knowledge which did not usually discriminate be- 
tween parliamentary law and the practice of legis- 
lative bodies determined by special rules. If the 
chair decided adversely to Mr. C, then he was 
ready to make an appeal, and more than ready to 
debate it. This, perhaps, would be the beginning 
of a parliamentary episode. Two or three other 
motions would be made, and everything- would o-et 
tangled all up. Then somebody, with the towerinp- 
ambition to air his knowledge and cut the Gordian 
knot at the same time, would move the previous 
question. Then, perhaps, the Chairman would get 
equally tangled up in trying to decide what the 
previous question was to which the motion applied. 
Then two or three members would come to his 
rescue, especially if he was fresh in his experience 
as a presiding officer. Then, finally, if the hour 
was late, some one would move an adjournment, 
and thus end the Chairman's difficulties and the de- 
bate at the same time. 

But Mr. Cobb was not only read}^ for a parlia- 
mentary scuffie ; he was equally ready to express 
his opinion upon all topics, whether they arose inci- 
dentally, or in the regular order of appointment. 
His conservative ideas led him to look with sus- 
picion upon reform movements, or " new fangled 
notions," and whenever any of these subjects came 
up he was ready to blow his blast. On one occa- 



2o8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

sion the slaveiy question was before the club. An 
abolition champion made allusion to "West India 
emancipation," and attempted to fortify his argu- 
ment by the results of that measure. When he sat 
down, Mr. Cobb sprang to his feet. "Mr. Presi- 
dent, the gentleman talks of West India emanci- 
pation. I tell him if he should read his Bible more 
and the Liberator less, he'd know more about 
West India emancipation." It is hardlv necessary 
to say that an explosion followed. 

Mr. George W. Mudge was an active and inter- 
ested member of the club. If one could be a more 
positive and decided Whig than Mr. Cobb it was 
Mr. Mudge, who, from the time the party took its 
name till it wxnt to ruins, was an intelligent advo- 
vocate of its principles, and an unwavering defender 
of its policy. Like most of his associates, he had 
received nothing more than a common school edu- 
cation : but his natural aptness and intelligence 
gained for him, when quite young, a position as 
clerk. As a salesman he had few equals. At an 
early age he established himself in trade, and for 
several years prior to the time to which this record 
relates he had been at the head of a firm doincf an 
extensive business. As a debater Mr. Mudge was 
a fluent, graceful speaker, and quick at repartee. 
He was fond of a good-humored joke, and a dis- 
cussion was never tame in which he bore a promi- 
nent part. He had one of the first requisites of a 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 2O9 

debater — he always observed the courtesies of the 
occasion, and no amount of warlike demonstration 
on the part of an opponent would ruffle his temper. 
He always took a lively interest in politics, and 
especially in those political questions having a 
bearing upon trade ; and whenever one of these 
topics came before the club his friends knew where 
to find him. Mr. Mudge is still a smart, active 
man. He was born in Lynn in 1811. 

There were a few members of the club who were 
too independent to harness themselves to any party. 
Mr. Perry Newhall was one of these. His ante- 
cedents were Democratic, but he had learned, even 
at that early day, that the high-sounding claims set 
forth in party platforms were to be taken with a 
grain of allowance. He was regarded as one of 
the original characters of the club. His chief 
characteristic was a contempt for all pretense and 
spread-eagle show. When there was a good chance 
for him to use his peculiar talent in exposing soph- 
istry or shallowness, he made, what the frequenters 
of the bowling alley call a "ten strike." Mr. New- 
hall was hardly a graceful speaker. He had some 
original gestures not recognized in any manual of 
elocution ; but they were very effective, and seemed 
to give momentum to the battering ram with which 
he assailed the bulwark of some old abuse, whose 
existence had been perpetuated b}' the avarice or 
ignorance of mankind. No matter how strongl}^ 
27 



2IO SKETCHES OF I.YNN. 

these hoary abuses were intrenched behind vener- 
able precedents, or how massive the pillars that 
propped up any ancient rascality, the defenders or 
apologists of any form of oppression or injustice 
were sure to feel the weight of his battle-ax ; and 
when he laid it down there were ruins lying round. 
Mr. Newhall is still living. He was born in Lynn 
in 1813. 

Mr. Darius Barry was not the least known of the 
members of the club. Just the opposite of this was 
true. At this time he was rather a Democrat than 
a Whig, though rather an Independent than either. 
He would not deny that he was a reformer if he 
could be allowed to define the term. He was not 
an abolitionist. He did not allude to the slaves of 
the South, or to the blacks of the North as his 
" colored brethren." On the contrary, when he had 
occasion to use the word negro, he used it, as a 
good many others do, as though it was spelled with 
two g's. Like most of his associates in the club, he 
had small opportunities of education, and in com- 
mon with most of them, he had not been made 
dizzy by being dandled in the lap of fortune. But 
nature had done more for him than schools could 
do. He was an insatiate reader, and had a mem- 
ory that gave him a grip that never let go its hold. 
Though his attainments at that time were but slight 
compared with the much wider results of later 
years, he had then ranged a large field of inquiry, 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 211 

inckidino- history, biography, travel and poetry. 
With most of the leading English poets he had an 
intimate acquaintance, and could repeat furlongs 
of their best lines. Though having little artistic 
knowledge of language, he had a command of the 
resources of his mother tongue that few possess ; 
and though it is more than likely that he never 
wrestled with the subtleties of Brown's 26th rule of 
syntax, his intimate contact with the masters of 
English speech gave to his language that general 
correctness that always comes from such compan- 
ionship. As a speaker, he was not graceful in his 
gestures, but his ready command of vigorous Saxon, 
and the force of his argument, gained at once the 
attention of the audience. It is needless to say that 
these qualities made him a formidable opponent in 
debate. Like his fellow-member, Mr. Newhall, 
with whom he had several points in common, he 
had no special reverence for antiquity ; and it might 
be added, in parenthesis, that there are some thincys 
in modern times that would not lead him to stand a 
great while bare-headed on a cold day. He was 
as ready as the man quoted by Sidney Smith to 
speak disrespectfully of the North Pole, or the 
Equator. He had a broad humor, which improved 
with age. He was equally ready to take a joke as 
to perpetrate one, and when a debate arose that 
called out his peculiar powers, there was sure to be, 
as the boys expressed it, " a good deal of music'' 



212 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Mr. Barry was born in Haverhill in 1812. In 1830 
he removed to Charlestown, to work at the morocco 
business, and remained there two years. In 1832 
he came to Lynn, and worked as an apprentice 
with Capt. Edward Carroll. He is still living, and 
as ready as ever for an intellectual tournament. 

Addison Davis was another prominent member 
of the club. He had received a good education, 
and was by profession a teacher. He was a sturdy 
abolitionist, and had even then begun to do some 
service in the anti-slavery field as a lecturer. He 
was, perhaps, next to Mr. Hussey, the most fluent 
speaker in the club ; and his portly figure, and 
energetic delivery, gave him a rank among the 
foremost of this renowned society. Mr. Davis, 
like many of his associates, had a keen eye for the 
ludicrous side of things, and could tell a witty 
anecdote by way of retort upon an opponent, that 
would var}' the gravit}' of the discussion with a roar 
of laughter. 

There were several prominent members in what 
might be called the reform ranks of the club. 
Among these, William Bassett held a conspicuous 
place. Though not a collegiate, Mr. Bassett was 
one of the best educated members of the society. 
He had a logical mind, and pursued a line of in- 
vestigation with a directness that comes only from 
intellectual training. He was especially interested 
in the anti-slaverv movement, and also the diet 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 213 

reform, which at that time, as ah-eady mentioned, 
was attracting considerable attention here, as in 
other parts of New England. He occasionally 
lectured upon these topics, and his treatment of any 
subject he attempted to handle, together with his 
talents as a speaker, insured him an appreciative 
audience. He was an excellent reader. As a 
debater, he spoke clearly and to the point, and his 
presence always added dignity and interest to the 
discussions. 

Dr. E. A. Kittredge will be remembered by all 
who ever knew him for his eccentricities, not less 
than his talents. He was an active member of the 
club, and was generally present at its meetings ; 
and when there he was about as sure to speak as to 
be present, and when he spoke, he was as sure to 
raise a laugh as he was to open his mouth. He 
had a peculiar voice, which he dropped into mum- 
bling so as to be unintelligible whenever anything 
of doubtful import was to be said ; but his varied 
and multifarious gesticulations made a pantomimic 
representation quite as intelligible as speech, and a 
good deal more amusing. One of his speeches was 
a sort of torchlight procession — now a good deal 
of blazing-up, then a flickering, then an occasional 
going-out, then again a re-lighting, and generally 
attended with a cloud of smoke. When he was on 
the floor his hearers were on tip-toe to know what 
was coming next. He was an ardent anti-slavery 



214 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

man, and took kindly to most of the reforms of the 
day. At this time he gave in his adhesion to the 
" Graham " theory of diet, and soon after was a 
zealous advocate of Priesznitz's cold water cure. 
He was popular as a physician, and had met with 
marked success. He was a racy writer, and a 
frequent contributor to the newspapers of Lynn, 
and vicinity. His signature, " Noggs," was as well 
known as the long hair he wore ; and next to the 
entertainment of one of his speeches was that of 
reading one of his inimitable pen and ink sketches. 
Our well-known fellow-citizen, James N. Buffum, 
hardly needs a mention here to give him a greater 
prominence either now or hereafter ; as his record 
is too fully made up to need a recognition of his 
talents in these pages. His biography has already 
been written by an appreciative literary friend, a 
work that will give him a more conspicuous niche 
in the long line claiming the attention of posterity 
than anything that can modestl}' be hoped for from 
this brief reference to his name and talents. But 
as one of the leading spirits of this club he was 
altogether too important a factor to be passed by 
unnoticed, as we call the roll of its honored mem- 
bers. Mr. Buftum was born in North Berwick, 
Maine, in 1807. He got a little schooling in the 
winter months during his boyhood, and at the age 
of sixteen came to Salem to learn the carpenter's 
trade. During the next four years he worked part 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 215 

of the time in Salem and part in Lynn. When 
twenty years of age, not satisfied with his meager 
school attainments, he left Lynn for Providence to 
attend the Friends' School in that city, where he 
remained for a single year only. This was the sum 
of his school instruction. He returned to Salem, 
and worked three years in the organ factory of the 
Messrs. Hook, to pay for this year's opportunity to 
master the elements of an English education. He 
shortly after came to Lynn, and was soon known 
as an energetic house-builder, never afraid to work, 
and never frightened by any difficulty that stood in 
his way. He got up early in the morning, and 
kept his eyes open all day. If anybody got ahead 
of him in matters of business it was not noised much 
about town, but it doubtless would have been if such 
a circumstance had leaked out. During the next 
ten years he probably built more houses, and struc- 
tures of different kinds, in Lynn than any other 
man in the place, and in the meantime interested 
himself in more matters, public and private, than 
often engage the attention of a single individual. 
He was active in all the reform movements of the 
day, anti-slavery, temperance, peace, and whatever 
other work that had for its object the good of man- 
kind. But it is with Mr. Buffum as a member of 
the club that these pages have chiefly to do. He 
was alwa3's present whenever his engagements 
made it possible, and when there was often known 



2l6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

to speak. Mr. Buffum was not distinguished for 
his reticence. He was often known to speak when 
called upon, and sometimes when he was not. He 
always carried his gun loaded, and was ready for 
any kind of game, and did not always wait for it to 
ligfht. No man knew better than he the difference 
between a " hawk and a hand-saw," though he did 
not always distinguish between a decoy duck and a 
real one. As a debater, he rarely armed himself 
with special preparation, but his large knowledge 
of men and things, his quickness of apprehension 
that enabled him to seize hold of everything that 
could be worked up to his purpose, encased him 
in an armor that was well nigh invulnerable ; and 
the faintest buo-le note that sounded the o-athering 
of hostile forces caught his ear, and found him 
ready for the fray. As already stated, he was the 
leader — if anybody was the leader — of the anti- 
slavery forces in the club. From youth he had an 
instinctive hatred of slavery, and his intimate ac- 
quaintance and companionship with the great lead- 
ers of the anti-slavery movement, William Lloyd 
Garrison, Wendell Phillips, and others of less note, 
together with his knowledge of the general litera- 
ture of the subject, furnished him a complete equip- 
ment to meet the arguments of his opponents, while 
his store of anecdotes and ready wit he used as a 
sort of light arms to harass and rout the sophist and 
the apologist for the "peculiar institution.'' In this 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 217 

respect he had much of the talent for which the late 
President Lincoln was so famous. Sometimes a 
member would attempt a long-drawn and fine-spun 
argument based upon some hair-splitting distinc- 
tion, or some subtile theory, too ethereal for this 
every-day world. It was then amusing to hear Mr. 
Buffum tell a story, or let off an epigram, that would 
burv the theory under the weight of its own absurd- 
ity, and swamp the theorist with a roar of laughter. 
Besides a large fund of anecdotes he had a stock of 
good humor, which often gave him an advantage 
over his opponents ; and if he occasionally " got 
his bristle off" at some personal thrust or innuendo, 
it was only for a moment, for he was too large a 
man to harbor petty resentments. 

Jesse Hutchinson, once so well-known in Lynn, 
was also a member of this club. Jesse's great forte 
(he was usually called Jesse) was music, and he 
especially excelled as a vocalist. Critics said that 
he had the grandest voice of all that musical family. 
A little earlier than this time he led the singing at 
the First Universalist Church on Union street, soon 
after that structure was built. Hiram West was 
there with his clarionet, Amos Fisher with his 
post-horn, Thomas Swan with his double bass-viol, 
Edwin Oliver with his violoncello, and two or three 
others with their flutes and violins. This was before 
organs were used in the churches in Lynn. Some- 
times, to swell the chorus, one or two of the famous 
28 



2l8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

"Hutchinson band" — Judson, John and Asa, and 
their sister Abbie — would be present. Then Jesse 
would sway his baton right and left, and then was 
heard such music as was probably never heard 
before in a New England meeting-house, and which 
would^have horrified the Roundheads of the time of 
Cromwell, and scarcely less alarmed their Puritan 
descendants of a much later day. On a summer 
evening the magnificent voice of Jesse might be 
heard coming from the famous " Old High Rock," 
near which he built his cottage, and the strains of 
a stirring lyric from some bard of liberty, or some 
grand old song that has been sung through the ages, 
cheering the heart of saint and martyr, would break 
the stillness of the evening air with its entrancing 
melody. But this is a digression, though it is just 
such a digression as most of the middle-aged and 
elderly readers of these pages would be willing the 
writer should run into as often as he chooses. The 
man has not made his appearance who could de- 
scribe Jesse as a debater. He was spasmodic, vol- 
canic, erratic, and occasionally prophetic, by turns. 
His nervous temperament gave him a sensitive 
organization that was " tremblingly alive " to every 
influence with which he came in contact. He 
entered the anti-slavery movement with his whole 
soul, and when a discussion arose on this question 
he was ready to uncord the vials of his wrath upon 
all who supported or apologized for the vile insti- 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 219 

tution. His clear tenor voice was often heard in 
the old vestry, its high notes now ringing a sono- 
rous invective against the oppressor of the poor and 
weak, and now melting into pathos as he pictured 
the sut^erings of some starving fugitive from the 
prison-house of slaver}', as by night the north star 
led him to the gates of freedom, or as by day 

" In the dark top of Southern pines. 
He nestled when the drivers horn 
Called to the field in lengthening lines, 
His fellows at the break of morn." 

"I tell you, Mr. President, this must come to an 
end. Just as sure as God reigns, this unrighteous 
system will be swept away. Brothers, the morn- 
ing light is breaking, the day is at hand. Let us 
work for it, and hasten its coming." And so he 
went on, warning, exhorting, and prophes3nng like 
some ancient seer or Hebrew prophet. But 'Jesse 
had other talents besides the gift of song, and the 
power of eloquence. He had the poet's tongue of 
fire, and sung his own stirring 13'rics with a skill 
that called out a storm of applause from delighted 
audiences. 

James P. Boyce, one of the founders of the club, 
and one of its most interested members, deserves 
recognition here as a sturdy reformer of the plain- 
spoken Quaker school. He was born- in Lynn in 
1805, and received the ordinary education given to 



220 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

boys at that time. Like most men born in New 
England early in the century, his health was not 
undermined by luxurious living, and in some con- 
versation with him relating to this subject the writer 
inferred that he was not often confused by the 
number of courses set before him for breakfast. 
On the contrary, the simplicity of the Indian 
" Johnn3^-cake " left him free to run out, if he so 
chose> any mathematical problem that might en- 
gage his attention. As a debater, Mr. Boyce 
always spoke clearly and to the point ; sometimes 
bluntly, always honestly, without ornament or 
ostentation. In matters involving moral principles, 
he was never a believer in what is called expe- 
diency, but believed in going straight to the mark 
without subterfuge or circumlocution. He had a 
keen sense of the ludicrous, and it was not often 
necessary for him to call the next da\' upon the 
perpetrator of a joke to get his meaning. 

Benjamin F. Mudge was an active member of 
this club. Mr. Mudge was born in Orrington, 
Maine, in 1817. His parents moved to Lynn dur- 
ing the following year, and, as a matter of conven- 
ience, took their son with them. He here received 
a common school education, and at the age of 
fourteen learned the shoemaker's trade, at which 
he worked four years. He then worked in the 
shoe manufactory of Joseph M. N^^e two years, as 
a cutter. In 1837 ^^ again attended school for a 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 221 

short time, and then fitted for college, graduating 
in 1840. He then studied law for two years in the 
office of J. C. Stickney ; was admitted to the bar, 
and began the practice of law just about the time 
to which this record relates. Mr. Mudjje was an 
easy, pleasing speaker, though having a somewhat 
peculiar intonation of voice. He was always gentle- 
manly and courteous in his bearing, and spoke 
sensibly and to the point. Mr. Mudge took a spe- 
cial interest in scientific pursuits, particularly geol- 
ogy, and was at this time, and in following years, 
a member of other societies that had a more scien- 
tific basis than was claimed for the old Silsbee 
Street Club. He was elected second Mayor of 
L3'nn in 1852, following Mr. Hood in that office. 
It is proper to mention here that four members of 
the club have sat in the Mayors chair — Messrs. 
Hood, Mudge, Baker and Buffiim — and others it 
is presumed were willing to sit there, as they gave 
their fellow-citizens an opportunity to vote for them, 
which many did, but not enough. 

William A. Clough was a member with decided 
Democratic proclivities. This is hardly putting the 
case strong enough. He had more than tendencies 
toward the views held by the Democratic party ; 
but was ratlier emphatic in his avowal and defense 
of his political faith. His surroundings w^ere as 
decidedly Whig ; but he never failed to maintain 
his side against whatever odds, w'hether that odds 



222 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

was expressed in superiority of numbers or in 
weight of influence. Mr. Clough was not so often 
heard in the debates as many others ; but when- 
ever he did speak there was a directness and point 
to what he said that commanded attention. His 
forte was in less public discussions, in store, or 
work-shop, or perhaps in the old Town Hall, 
among a knot of equally ardent politicians, when 
some important question, local or national, was agi- 
tating the public mind. He was then, as the phrase 
was, " enough " for two or three Whigs. 

There were other young members of the club 
who bore a prominent part in these discussions. 
Some of these removed from town soon after the 
disorganization of the society, and others died in 
early life. 

In preceding pages the writer lias alluded to the 
range that discussion took ; but mention has been 
made chiefl}' to grave questions of State policy, or 
of reform movements having a national significance. 
Besides these grave questions there were numerous 
minor topics, or " isms,'''' each of which had its ad- 
herents and supporters. " Grahamism " was one of 
these. This was a movement in the interest of 
dietetic reform. Its leader in this country was Dr. 
Sylvester Graham — hence the name given to his 
system, and to its advocates. The principle tenet 
of his system was abstinence from animal food, and 
the substitution of bread made from unbolted wheat 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 223 

in place of the common kind made from superfine 
flour. It was argued that from flesh eating and 
the use of bread made from fine flour arose well- 
nigh all the evils that " flesh is heir to," to use a 
quotation that some readers may have met with 
before. From the general propositions laid down 
by this diet reformer came forth various vagaries. 
Some advocated an exxlusively fruit diet. Others 
an exclusively vegetable diet. Some thought cold 
baked potatoes about the right article, varied, per- 
haps, by something else equally cold and indiges- 
tible : and cold water was generally recommended 
in place of tea and coffee. ""Col. Sellers" had not 
then given to turnips their high repute as an article 
of diet ; but respecting the " cold water," these re- 
formers anticipated Col. Sellers by more than thirty 
years. A debate on the diet question in the Silsbee 
Street Club was well worth attending. Here were 
members with extreme views on this, as well as on 
all other questions : and here were some who held 
on to their old opinions with a grip that nothing 
but an ingrained conservatism can give. 

REPORT OF A DEBATE IN THE SILSBEE STREET 
DEBATING CLUB. 

The following reports of debates are designed to 
show the characteristics of the members, and the 
general spirit of the discussions which took place. 



224 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

not only in the Silsbee Street Club, but in similar 
institutions which were for the most part a sort of 
oft-shoot from the parent stock, and which were 
made up in part of some of the most noted members 
of the old club. It is not claimed that they are 
verbatim reports taken by some short-hand pro- 
cess, or elaborated from notes taken on the spot. 
They are rather the embodied impressions indelibly 
stamped upon the writer's mind by constant attend- 
ance upon the meetings of the club, and an inti- 
mate personal acquaintance with many of its mem- 
bers. First — when quite young — as a spectator, 
and afterward as an active member of some five or 
six different societies, formed for mutual improve- 
ment, and the discussion of the great questions of 
the day, he became intimately associated with the 
members of these societies, some of whom, with 
him, had a connection with the different organiza- 
tions as they followed through successive years. 
Without further note or explanation he will give 
what may be taken as a sample of these debates, 
leaving it for living witnesses — of whom there are 
jTiany — to tell how faithfully, or otherwise, he has 
drawn the picture. 

The question before the club was — " Has a per- 
son a right to partake of animal food?" This was 
amended by adding the words "under ordinary 
circumstances." 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 225 

The President has stated the question, and the 
discussion proceeds. 

"Mr. President — I shall speak on the negative 
of this question. If folks only knew half as much 
as I do about this matter, they 'd know better than 
to cram themselves with all sorts of stuff — roast 
turke}^ (those that can afford to get it, I can't,) lamb, 
beef, roast pork, (there's stuff for a man to eat,) 
mince pies, doughnuts, (I do n't wonder people are 
sick,) sausages, hot bread, (I suppose some of you 
eat sausages and saleratus bread,) baked beans, 
(the}' generally eat them Sundays,) and all sorts of 
miserable trash that 's no more fit to eat than — well, 
I can't do justice to this subject. Then there 's 
coffee; do you suppose that's fit to drink? You 
ought to see how doctors live ; you 'd learn some- 
thing from them. There 's brother Cobb ; I sup- 
pose he does n't believe what I 'm talking about."- 
"I call the gentleman to order. I believe it's not 
parliamentary to call gentlemen by name." " I 
beg pardon, Mr. President, I did n't mean to be 
unparliamentary, but you know I have to talk in 
my own way. If brother Cobb only knew — " 
" I call — " " Do n't fret, brother, I 'm almost 
through. Let's see, where was I? I've lost the 
thread of my speech ; but it's no consequence, so 
I '11 sit down before I make a fool of myself. 
There 's brother Buffum, he wants to speak." 

Another member rises. " Mr. President — The 
29 



226 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

gentleman speaks about roast turkey and pork and 
lamb hurting folks. I guess they 're hurt more for 
want of 'em. I eat turkey and pork, and mince 
pies, and I never got hurt by 'em. I was brought 
up in the zvoods, in the hack zvoods, where they eat 
bears' grease. The gentleman says he does n't 
wonder people are sick. Does he suppose they 
would n't be sick if they were to live on Graham 
bread and boiled carrots? How came Graham to 
know so much more than other folks? I 've ate 
meat all my life, and I expect to for a good while 
to come. So far as I know, people always ate 
meat. The gentleman talks about posterity. What 
does posterity ki^ow about this question ? I 'd like 
to hear some better reason for eating bran bread 
than any I 've heard yet." 

"Mr. President"— "Mr. President." "The voice 
•of Mr. struck my ear first," responds the Presi- 
dent. 

" Mr. President — It will be admitted by every 
one that understands the merits of this question that 
the evils of over-eating are among the most serious 
that afflict mankind. What is the great temptation 
to over-eating? It is luxurious living. Simple diet 
would be a cure for all this. Instead of a half- 
dozen dishes in which acids, fats, and alkalies mix 
and mingrle, lavincr the foundations of a thousand 
diseases that come from indigestion, we should 
have a few plain articles of food that would not 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 227 

tempt the appetite to excess. High-seasoned dishes 
and dainty food tickle the palate, and so lead to 
gormandizing, and all the evils that follow in its 
train. There are, besides, other evils that ptow 
out of this false system of living. It entails a need- 
less expense and makes slaves of women who per- 
form the worse than useless labor of elaborately 
prepared dishes. Will anybody pretend that all 
this is necessary for the health and comfort of man- 
kind? There are many notable instances on record 
of men who have abstained from animal food, and 
confined themselves to a vegetable or farinaceous 
diet, and who attained a great age, and maintained 
a high degree of health. But we have not only 
individual examples, there are whole nations who 
rarely, or never, eat animal food. The millions of 
India subsist almost entirely on rice. The Arabs, 
fine specimens of men physically, live largely on 
dates and figs, and rarely taste of the flesh of ani- 
mals. Mr. President, I have tested this matter in 
my own experience. No one liked better than I a 
good turkey dinner ; but I have realized the benefits 
of a simple diet. I sometimes make a breakfast of 
cold baked potatoes, or some single article of plain 
food, and nothing else. When the advantages of 
this simple way of living are better understood, we 
shall see people abandon the old, injurious and ex- 
pensive habits that have so long prevailed. But 
I will give way for others." 



228 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Two or three members by this time are on their 

feet, when the President announces that Mr. 

has the floor. 

" Mr. President — I want to say a few words on 
this subject. Every once in a while some ism or 
ology will come along, and these reformers, as they 
call themselves, will get hold of it and suppose they 
are going to turn the world inside out. There is 
this Grahamism we hear so much about lately. I 
suppose Graham thinks if he can get people to eat 
bran bread and carrots that everything will be fixed 
all right. Let us look at this thing, Mr. President, 
in the light of common sense. Did you ever know 
a nation that amounted to anything that ever lived 
on any such miserable fodder? It may do for a 
horse or a donkey ; a donkey, you know, '11 eat 
thistles. The gentleman tells about the rice-eating 
millions of India. Well, that's a good illustration. 
What does the whole set of 'em amount to? India 
shows marks of an ancient civilization, ruins of 
temples, and vast works of art ; but they did n't 
live on rice then, I '11 warrant you. They had 
something to eat. Do you suppose the men that 
planned and built the pyramids lived on rice or 
baked potatoes? I guess not. Or the old Greeks 
of the time of Homer? Or the old Romans? Just 
imagine, Mr. President, a Roman army fed on 
Graham gingerbread. Then there 's the old Saxon 
race from which we sprang ; they ate everything 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 229 

they could lay their hands on, and drank, too, for 
that matter. This talk about the millions that live 
on rice is all ' bosh.' Why, a regiment of beef- 
eating English soldiers would scare an army of 'em. 
England has already got half their territory away 
from them, and she '11 steal the other half before 
long. But, Mr. President, what authority is there 
for this Graham theory? You can't find any. 
Does Galen, or Hippocrates, or Dr. Rush, or 
Bichat, or Abernethy, or Carpenter, or anybody 
else, ancient or modern, who is acknowledged as 
authority, support this theory? Of course not. 
This Gra/iciJii ought to have a monument of brozvn 
bread crust. I 'd like to say something on this 
subject if I had time." 

Among the members of the Silsbee Street De- 
bating Club, the name of George W. Keene is too 
conspicuous to be omitted, though he did not take 
so prominent a part in the discussions as some 
others. Mr. Keene was hardly aggressive enough, 
or, as the phrenologists would express it, had hardly 
" combativeness " enough to qualify him for a first- 
class debater ; but he was an easy speaker, court- 
eous in his manner, and had a prepossessing per- 
sonal appearance. He was often called upon to 
preside at Lyceums, and other public occasions, 
w hich he always did with dignity and general ac- 
ceptance. 



230 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Occasionally the meetings of the club would be 
graced with the presence of visitors somewhat dis- 
tinguished even then, and who afterwards acquired 
a wide celebrity. Frederick Douglass, Charles 
Lennox Remond, Parker Pillsbury, Henry Clapp, 
Henry G. Wright — an English gentleman — and 
other persons of note and influence. Mr. Douglass 
lived in Lynn about this time. He was not then the 
polished orator that he has since become, but even 
at that early day he gave promise of the grand 
part he was to pla}' in the conflict which was to 
end in the destruction of the system that had so 
long cursed his race. He was more than six feet 
in height, and his majestic form, as he rose to 
speak, straight as an arrow, muscular, yet lithe and 
graceful, his flashing eye, and more than all, his 
voice, that rivaled Webster's in its richness, and in 
the depth and sonorousness of its cadences, made 
up such an ideal of an orator as the listeners never 
forgot. And they never forgot his burning words, 
his pathos, nor the rich play of his humor. He had 
just escaped from the " house of bondage ; " and as 
he recited his experience as a slave, his suflerings 
as he grew old enough to realize the bitterness of 
his lot, his alternate hope and despair as he at- 
tempted to lift the vail of the future — his eyes 
would now flash with defiance, and now grow dim 
with emotions he could not control : and the roll of 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 23 1 

his splendid voice, as he hurled his denunciations 
against the infamous system, would pass to the 
minor key whose notes trembled on his tongue. 
Then with inimitable mimicr}" he would give a droll 
recital of some ludicrous scene in his experience as 
a slave, or with bitter sarcasm he would tell a tale 
of insult offered by some upstart who fancied he 
held his title to manhood by the whiteness of his 
skin ; and then again, with flashing eye, he would 
hurl his indignant denunciation at " wickedness in 
high places," against men who, under the pretended 
sanction of religion, defended the "infernal insti- 
tution" whose horrors had filled his days with dread, 
and his night dreams with terror. An incident, 
which the writer heard him relate iu his peculiar 
manner, half amusing, and half indignant at the 
outrage he had suffered, occurred about this time. 
Its recital will sound strangeh' some years hence. 
These were the days when " negro cars " were on 
our railroads. Mr. Douglass, and his friend, James 
N. Buffum, having purchased their tickets, entered 
one of the cars, not taking special pains to get into 
the negro car. It was on the Eastern Railroad, 
and they were bound for Newburyport. The con- 
ductor came along, and spying Mr. Douglass, 
asked him what he was in that car for. Mr. 
Douglass replied in substance that he wanted to go 
to a certain place, and thought that the most direct 



232 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

way. The conductor ordered Mr. Douglass to 
leave. Mr. Douglass assured the conductor that 
he was satisfied with his seat, and excused himself 
from accepting the invitation. The conductor 
called to his aid two or three brakemen, who pro- 
ceeded to make a demonstration that looked as 
though Mr. Douglass was to be taken from the car 
without gaining the consent of his will, or the aid 
of his limbs. It was amusing to hear Mr. Doug- 
lass relate this part of the scene. "When they 
took hold of me," said Mr. Douglass, with a broad 
grin, "I felt my hands instinctively clutch the arms 
of the seat where I sat, and I seemed to be very 
firmly attached to the place." But two or three 
stout brakemen were too much for young Douglass, 
though he had the grip of a giant ; or rather, they 
were too strong to deal with the kind of car furni- 
ture then in use. Douglass left the car, and left 
behind him an empt}^ space in one end of it where 
seats had been. This was before nitro-glycerine 
was known ; otherwise, one might have supposed 
that a small can of that article had exploded in 
that end of the car. This was near the middle of 
the nineteenth century. 

Henry Clapp sometimes spoke in the club. Be- 
sides being one of the most pungent and racy writers 
of the day, he had speaking talent of a high order. 
Few extemporaneous speakers could put a sentence 



THE SILSBEE STREET DEBATING CLUB. 233 

together so compactly as he. He was aggressive 
and denunciatory in his style, and his vocabulary 
of invective was Shakesperean in its range. 

There were others hardly less deserving of men- 
tion, notice of whom, at this time, would carry me 
bevond the limits assigned to this volume. 



30 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 



When the writer began the foregoing sketch of 
the Silsbee Street Society his purpose was simply 
to present some of the leading features of an organ- 
ization somewhat marked in its characteristics, and 
which gave it a local fame beyond that hitherto 
gained by any similar association. But this work 
expanded on his hands, and its significance in illus- 
trating the literary aspects of our ancient town, and 
its important bearing upon the education of our 
community, led him to give a greater prominency 
to this peculiar phase of intellectual activity as 
it has shown itself in our midst. While the debat- 
ing society, or "lyceum," as it is often called, is an 
American, and more especially a New England, 
institution, similar societies have existed among us 
to such- a degree that they may be regarded as a 
peculiar product of our community. Within the 
last half century hardly less than a score of these 
societies, some of them in active operation for many 
years — and several of them simultaneously — have 
been organized within the limits of Lynn ; while 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN, 



^S^ 



Others having a briefer existence followed each 
other through successive years. 

In West Lynn there ^were several of these soci- 
eties, and many of our prominent citizens were 
members. Hon. George Hood, Hon.. Thomas B. 
Newhall, James R. Newhall, the historian, Rev. F. 
P.Tracy, Rev. Joel S. Bacon, Jeremiah C. Stickney, 
and some others, belonged to an association known 
as the ''Franklin Club." It was organized in 1836 
or '37. 

An association specially worthy of mention was 
formed in 1842. This was called the ''Natural 
History Society." Its purpose was to encourage 
the study of natural history, and to this end a col- 
lection of minerals, and curiosities in every depart- 
ment of this science, was made by the members, 
and others interested in promoting this brancli of 
knowledge. Its membership included a large num- 
ber of our professional men, especially physicians. 
Dr. William Prescott was specially active in organ- 
izing this movement, and with him were associated 
Drs. James M. Nye, Daniel Perley, Joseph B. 
Holder, Charles O. Barker, Edward L. Coffin and 
Asa T; Newhall. Besides these gentlemen of the 
medical profession, the following well-known citi- 
zens gave their time and intluence to advance the 
interests of the society, Thomas B. Newhall, James 
R. Newhall, Benjamin F. Mudge, William B. 
Oliver, and many others, w^ho contributed more or 



236 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

less to the success of the movement. The mem- 
bership of this society was very large. A course 
of lectures was given, soon^fter the association was 
formed, by several of the above-named gentlemen. 
Another society called the " Social Union " was 
formed in 1843. Each member was assigned some 
special work. One lectured on natural philosophy, 
another on chemistry, a third on geology, and a 
fourth on history, and so on round the circle of 
members. Some members gave special attention 
to music, and wrote the musical compositions per- 
formed at the meetings of the society, others wrote 
the hymns that were sung. Each meeting was 
opened with singing, and the musical exercises 
were confined to the compositions of members. 
This society held its meetings weekly, and each 
member was expected to do his part. One evening 
in each month was given to a lecture, two were 
devoted to debates, and the fourth to miscellaneous 
exercises. Each member presided in turn, and 
performed certain other duties that were supposed 
to be specially valuable as a means of drill. Mem- 
bership in this society meant study, and no one 
was allowed to shirk his duties. The following well- 
known citizens were the leading members of this 
society, the late Stephen D. Poole, Cyrus M. Tracy, 
John C. Houghton, Rev. George W. Rogers and 
Rev. Oliver S. Howe. Several others, less promi- 
nent, did their part of the work, and shared the 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 237 

benefits of this well-organized association. Meas- 
ured by results, this society did a great work for its 
members. It was not only a debating society, it 
was a school in the broadest sense ; one in which 
the moral, mental, and social faculties were con- 
stantly disciplined. 

In 1850 an association was formed in the same 
section of the town which took the name of "The 
Exploring Circle." It was scientific rather than 
literary in its character, though its members culti- 
vated all fields of inquiry. It was specially devoted 
to the investigation of topics of local interest in 
Lynn, and in the immediate neighborhood — geo- 
logical, historical, and antiquarian researches, old 
roads, old houses, and ancient landmarks, and every 
question illustrating the history, manners, customs, 
traditions, as well as the political, religious, edu- 
cational, and social condition of the people who 
settled here some two centuries and a half ago — all 
these subjects received attention at the hands of the 
members, who gave at their semi-monthly meet- 
ings, reports of their investigations. 

This society took an annual excursion to some 
locality in the neighborhood having a scientific or 
historical interest ; and whatever was gathered on 
these occasions was made to contribute, in some 
way, to the general good of the whole. The four 
original members were Stephen D. Poole, Cyrus 
M. Tracy, John C. Houghton and Joseph M. 



238 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Rowell. To these names were afterward added 
Gardiner Tufts, Edward Poor, Samuel Guilford, 
George W. Rog-ers, Wilbur F. Newhall, Edward 
Johnson, Jr., William P. Sargent, John T. Moulton, 
David N. Johnson and Albert S. Rowell. This 
society still keeps up its organization. It is the 
oldest literary association in the city, having had 
an existence of thirty consecutive years. 

Soon after the Washingtonian movement of 1840 
several debating societies sprang up, having tor 
their main object the discussion of the temperance 
question. The existence of many of these was of 
short duration, several following successively dur- 
ing the next ten years. 

About 1849 a society called " The Gnomologian 
Society" was formed — mostly by young men of 
West Lynn. Its othcers were — President, Theo- 
dore Attwill ; Vice-President, David N. Johnson ; 
Secretary, Nathaniel H. Stevenson ; Treasurer, 
Edward Johnson, Jr. ; Editor, Nathaniel J. Holden. 
The following gentlemen were also members of 
this Society : Charles C. Spinney, Samuel Spinney, 
James E. Oliver, Charles H. Aborn, Thomas P. 
Nichols, Daniel C. Holder and John Jameson. 

Somewhat later than 1850 an organization known 
as the " Adams Association " was formed, com- 
posed, for the most part, of the members of the 
old Silsbee Street Club. This had a short but 
brilliant career. 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 239 

THE YOUNG MEn's DEBATING SOCIETY. 

This Society was organized on the 28th of Sep- 
tember, 1852. The meeting for organization was 
held in the vestry of the Silsbee Street Church, 
before mentioned as the headquarters of the old 
Silsbee Street Club, and the record states that it 
was called bv members of the " Old Gnomoloirian 
Society" — an organization then recently disbanded. 
The record is not clear as to the number or names 
of those present, but the writer's recollection, and 
the allusions made in the minutes, enable him to 
give the following alphabetical list as — in all prob- 
ability — the persons having the honor of founding 
this institution : Theodore Attwill, David N. John- 
son, Edward Johnson, Henry Moore, James E. 
Oliver, Charles A. Shorey, Nathaniel H. Stevenson 
and Gardiner Tufts. At this meeting, Theodore Att- 
will was chosen Chairman, and John H- Crosman, 
Secretary. On motion of David N. Johnson, a com- 
mittee was chosen to draw up a constitution, and 
this committee reported a constitution and bv-laws 
at the next meeting, and the same were accepted. 
The following list shows the roll of members, as 
their names stand on the journal of the societ}', con- 
taining the records of the first two years — President, 
Nathaniel J. Holden ; Secretary, John H. Crosman ; 
Treasurer, Edward Johnson ; officers for the first 
six months; Phillip A. Chase, David N. Johnson, 



240 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

James E. Oliver, Lyman I. Holcomb, Samuel A. 
Wood, Charles A. Shorey, T. F. Noyes, George 
A. Crosman, Charles A. Taber, George A. Hood, 
Nathaniel H. Stevenson, Theodore Attwill, William 
H. Barr\', Sidney C. Bancroft, Gilbert Hawkes, 
Abner C. Goodell, John R. Hunt, John Jameson, 
John Winslow, William A. Attwill, Joseph A. 
Steele, A. Osgood Attwill, Joseph Davis 2d, F. M. 
McCutcheon, A. P. Pierce, Walter B. Allen, Eben 
Parsons, William A. Frothingham and Jesse L. Att- 
will. Still later, many others joined this society — 
among them Nathan Clark, David H. Sweetser, 
John A. Sweetser and William Lloyd Garrison, 
Jr., — until the membership included not less than 
fifty persons. Several in the above list had been 
members of the High School, which sent out its 
first graduating class in 1852, and which was fol- 
lowed through the successive years of this period 
by a class increasing from fifteen to thirty members 
annually. 

As already intimated, several members of the 
Silsbee Street Club belonged, in after years, to 
other societies of a similar character. Hence, we 
find a few names of the most prominent individ- 
uals of this older society on the list of honorary 
membership, preserved in the records of the Young 
Men's Debatinp- Societv ; and several others were 
accustomed to attend its meetings, and take part 
in its debates. Among those who, as honorary 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 24I 

members, or as visitors participating in the discus- 
sions, were several of our foremost citizens, some of 
whom, in after years, held high official positions- 
Most of the following names will be recognized 
outside the limits of our city : Hon. John B. Alley, 
Hon. Edwin Walden, Col. Gardiner Tufts, Hon. 
James N. Buffum, Prof. Benjamin F. Mudge, Prof. 
Charles C. Shackford and Addison Davis. 

If the writer were to assert that this society had 
more talent than was found in the old Silsbee Street 
Club, a fierce growl of dissent would, doubtless, be 
heard from some of the veterans of this famous 
institution ; but it cannot be denied that there was 
more scholarship and general culture among its 
members. Here were Ibund college graduates, 
college students, and, in the later years of the soci- 
et}', not less than a score of High School graduates. 
The discussions were marked by a closer observ- 
ance of parliamentary rules, and some of the ex- 
perts in this science were willing to debate points 
of order, irrespective of time, place, or weather. 
An elaborate order of exercises regulated the pro- 
ceedings of each meeting, and standing committees 
were appointed to report topics for discussion. A 
manuscript paper, called " Our Oracle," was read 
monthly, containing the wit and wisdom of mem- 
bers, displayed in essays, wise and otherwise, hair- 
splitting metaphysics, mathematics the most ab- 
31 



242 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

struse, conundrums which everybody gave up at 
once, and various indescribable compositions, each 
line beginning with a capital, and ending with a 
word that rhymed with some other. This was 
called poetry. It ranged from the vilest doggerel 
up to a kind that was never mistaken for Milton's. 
The debates of this society were often attended by 
crowded audiences. On anniversary occasions an 
extensive programme of exercises was carried out. 
One of these anniversaries was held in 1856, in. 
Sagamore Hall, then the largest hall in the city, 
next to the Lyceum Hall, built in 1841. The large 
audience assembled expressed the highest satisfac- 
tion with the various exercises, which included an 
oration, a poem b\' one of the members, and the 
reading of " Our Oracle " by the editor. If the tes- 
timony of those present, and of the press, is to be 
taken, the members who took part in this perform- 
ance had no reason to complain. 

This society run its course through the stormiest 
period of the anti-slavery controvers}'. The passage 
of the Fugitive Slave Bill, in 1850, and the angry 
discussions that attended it — the repeal of the Mis- 
souri Compromise, in 1854, ^'^^ ^^^^ assault on 
Charles Sumner, in the Senate chamber, in 1856, 
roused the nation, and arrayed the North and the 
South in hostile attitude against each other. It is 
not surprising, therefore, that this question was 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 



243 



often discussed by members of the club, and that 
a debate somewhat like the following was frequenth^ 
heard. 

A DEBATE IN THE YOUNG MEN's CLUB. 

The question is one declaring the justice and ex- 
pediency of the immediate abolition of slavery. 
The president has stated the question, and an- 
nounced the speaker who was to open the debate. 

" Mr. President — The resolution before us states 
a self-evident proposition, and but little time is 
needed to set forth truths that appeal to the common 
instincts of mankind. What right has one man to 
enslave another? The question carries its own 
answer with it. Is it because the slave is black, 
and ignorant, and defenceless, and his oppressor 
white, educated, and powerful? The common 
sense of mankind revolts at the base suggestion. 
On w^hat other grounds can the system of slavery 
be defended? Perhaps we shall hear that political 
expediency is sufficient to justify its perpetuity, or, 
at least, is sufficient reason to resist its sudden over- 
throw. But political expediency is not sufficient to 
justify such an utter perversion of justice. Slavery 
is the embodiment of every villainy. Nothing can 
justify it. But it is needless to debate a proposition 
so self-evident. I will give way for m}- opponent." 



244 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

The president announces that Mr. has the 

floor, as the member appointed in the negative. 

'" Mr. President — It is time that this question 
was discussed on its merits. SLavery is to be justi- 
fied because it is the best thing under existing cir- 
cumstances — the best thing for the black man as 
well as for the white man. We've had enough of 
this sickly sentimentality about the wrongs of the 
slave. He is better off in slavery, because he 
does n't know how to take care of himself, or will 
not take care of himself. Look at his history ! What 
has he ever amounted to? What sort of a figure 
has he cut in the world's civilization ? What has 
he done ? Nothing. He was a barbarian as far 
back as we ever heard of him, and wherever we 
find him in contact with the superior races he 
alwaj^s appears as a menial — a hewer of wood 
and a drawer of water. Egyptian hieroglyphics 
reveal his social position as it was thousands of 
years ago. He there appears as the slave of his 
superiors ; and he has done no better ever since. 
He has been ranging over the continent of Africa 
throui»:h unrecorded asjes, and what monuments has 
he left behind him? What has he taught the world 
in architecture, sculpture, painting, or in any of the 
arts of civilization ? What records has he left be- 
hind him? What has he done for law, literature, 
or science? Nothing. He lives in miserable huts, 
eats roots, and vile reptiles. He is, and always has 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 245 

been, a naked, ignorant savage, and he seems to 
be incapable of anything above the rudest civiliza- 
tion. We hear great lamentations over his condi- 
tion as a slave. Why, Mr. President, he never 
amounted to half as much in his native land. We 
are told that slavery breaks up the marriage rela- 
tion, and we hear doleful stories of the sundering of 
domestic ties. What sort of marriage relations did 
he have in Africa? And what were his domestic 
ties? All this talk about the African's sensibilities 
in these matters is too shallow to deceive anybody 
that knows an3'thing about him. He has improved 
by his contact with the white man, and he is im- 
measurably higher in the scale of being, as we find 
him in the Southern States, than he ever was in his 
native jungles. Ever}' once in a while we hear, 
Mr. President, of West India emancipation, as 
though there was anything encouraging about that 
experiment. What do we see there ? We see them 
lapsing back into utter barbarism. They are too 
lazy to work, and the Islands are going to ruin. 
Look at Jamaica ; her exports fallen to almost 
nothing. Coffee, sugar, and other tropical pro- 
ducts, she used to export by millions in the days 
of slavery. Now all there is to boast of is a cer- 
tain spice that grows wild in the woods, which the 
blacks find time to gather, but which costs no labor 
to cultivate. So much tor his ability to get a liv- 
ing unaided by the directing hand of a superior 



246 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

race. In the scale of human intelligences he is a 
child, to be kept under tutelage. In this way-, 
only^ can he fill his place in the economy of society. 
But this subject is so broad, Mr. President, that in 
the brief time allowed me I can only touch the sur- 
face of the question. I will give way for others." 

Two or three members are now on their feet, 
having already shouted — " Mr. President ! " The 
floor is assigned to Mr. . 

■' Mr. President — We have listened to the gen- 
tleman's defense of the infernal system of slavery, 
and what does it come to? It is as good a defense 
as can be made, and yet what is its logic ; and 
where does its doctrine carry us? It is the logic of 
the robber, and the doctrine has been the doctrine 
of tyrants in all ages ; and where does it lead us ? 
The strongest nation, thinking itself the most ad- 
vanced in civilization, enslaves the weakest because 
it does not make a good show in the world's com- 
merce, or cannot boast an ancient civilization, with 
its ruins of temples, and its monuments of art ; and 
so when the weak nation cannot satisfactorily an- 
swer the question — ' What do you amount to ? ' — 
the stronger takes it 'under tutelage,' and improves 
its commerce, and lifts it to a higher plane of civil- 
ization by enslaving it. The old Caucasian race, 
of which we consider ourselves the ' bright con- 
summate flower,' the race that built the pyramids, 
and filled the earth with ruins, attesting its power, 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 247 

and also its deca\', has been in successive centuries 
enslaver and enslaved, now standing on the highest 
pinnacle of the world's civilization, and now de- 
scending to the lowest depths of barbarism and deg- 
radation ; savages who performed horrid and bloody 
rites, lived in the wilderness, and clothed themselves 
in the skins of beasts. What has the gentleman to 
say of his Saxon ancestors, who lived so long in the 
German forests that Tacitus tells they were called 
the ' children of the soil ? ' What improvement did 
these ' shaggy demons of the wilderness ' — as 
Carlyle calls similar hordes of barbarians who fol- 
lowed Tamerlane — make through these countless 
centuries? What monuments did they build? What 
were their exports? What treasures of literature 
did they leave behind them ? What sort of a ' figure 
did they cut ' in the world's civilization up to the 
time when, emerging from their caves and dens, 
this horde of savages descended upon the coast of 
Britain ? And what sort of a figure did those other 
barbarians cut — Goths, Huns, and Vandals, off- 
spring of your boasted Caucasian race — up to the 
time when, w'ith torch and battle-ax, they descended 
upon Southern Europe, and destroyed the monu- 
ments of science, literature, and art, that the civili- 
zation of fifteen centuries had bequeathed to man ? 
I need not tell the gentleman what w^as the char- 
acter and modes of lite of these ' demons ' of the 
forest as far back as history gives us a glimpse of 



248 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

their savage life. How much was their barbarism 
in advance of the barbarism of the African tribes? 
And yet we see these Saxon, and other pirates, 
changed by new conditions, until at last they be- 
came leaders in the world's advancing civilization, 
and carved lor themselves an imperishable name. 
The gentleman does not seem to see that he upset 
the foundations of his argument, when he told us 
how much less of a savage the African is under 
the tutelage of his white master in the Southern 
States, than he was in his 'native jungles.' If we 
have seen so much progress in the last two hundred 
years — a mere speck in the \vorld"s history — by 
his contact with the white man, himself degraded, 
as Jefferson tells us, as he alwaA's is by playing 
the part of a tyrant — what ma}^ we not expect to 
see under the most favorable conditions possible, 
when cycles of time shall have been added in which 
to work out his regeneration. 

But we have had enough of this miserable mer- 
cenary logic, that weighs its coffee, and sugar, and 
cotton, and strikes a balance between exports and 
imports. The doom of slavery is sealed. The 
handwritinp- is on the wall. The civilization of the 
nineteenth century, that just begins to comprehend 
the significance of the Christian declaration, that 
God has made of one blood all nations to dwell on 
the face of the earth, has settled this question beyond 
the power of a mole-eyed political economy to 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 249 

reverse. When the first French revolution swept 
slavery from the colonies of France, in obedience 
to the doctrine of our Declaration of Independence, 
the knell of slavery was struck, and its echoes were 
heard around the world. Toussaint taught the 
great Napoleon that the armies of France could 
not forge again the fetters of the black man. Then 
followed the destruction of slavery in the colonies 
of every commercial nation in Europe, Spain alone 
excepted. Does the gentleman suppose that this 
tide will not reach us ? Are the champions of 
slavery so besotted with prejudice as to think that 
they can turn back the hand that marks the world's 
progress on the dial of time? The enlightenment 
of the nineteenth century will settle this question in 
the only way it can be settled — on the basis of 
justice, and the rights of man. The age that has 
given us the locomotive -and the electric telegraph, 
an age ripe with revolutions, and above all an ao-e 
that makes clearer and clearer the duties man owes 
to his fellow man, shall bring this 'sum of all vil- 
lainies' to a speedy end, and American liberty be 
no longer a ' hissing and a by-word among the na- 
tions.' " 

The president's hammer announces that the gen- 
tleman's time has expired. The shouting from 
three or four who wish to speak makes it difficult 
for the president to tell whose voice first struck his 
32 



250 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ear ; but he decides to give it to Mr. , who had 

not spoken. 

" Mr. President — The gentleman who spoke last 
made a very plausible argument on his high moral 
ground ; but it won't do. The darkey has never 
amounted to anything, and he never will. The 
gentleman on the negative put this matter right. 
Wherever we find the black he appears as a slave or 
a savage. Phrenology settles this question. Just 
look at this African ; w^ith his forehead sloping 
away on a line with the bridge of his nose. Do n't 
you see that all his brains, pretty much, are behind 
his ears? How long, do you suppose, it would 
take to bring him up to a level with the white man? 
The gentleman in the affirmative told us what pro- 
gress we might expect this black race would make, 
judging from what he has done in the Southern 
States. That is easily explained. He has got 
some white blood in his veins. We hear about 
these smart darkeys. Why, Mr. President, they 're 
half zvhitc, you note it where you w^ill. Your real 
African does n't improve. If he had, he 'd have 
showed it somewhere. What have they done as a 
race? In Africa, his home, he has always been an 
ignorant savage, and out of Africa he has always 
been a slave. What does this show? It shows 
that when he 's among white men he must be taken 
care of. If he is n't, he '11 run wild. The experi- 
ment in Jamaica, which the gentleman alluded to, 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 25 1 

illustrates the case. It was found that all the ex- 
ports there fell oft^ except pimento, and what do 
you suppose the reason was that the crop of pimento 
did n't fall off ? I '11 tell you. It grows zutld, Mr. 
President, and thrives better when not cultivated ; 
and so you see the darkeys have just gumption 
enough to gather it, but they 're too lazy to raise 
anything that needs care or work. Now, suppose 
you abolish slavery down South, what '11 the blacks 
do with themselves ; or what '11 you do with them ? 
You '11 have the biggest elephant on your hands 
that you ever had. But as there are a number who 
want to speak, Mr. President, I '11 say no more at 
present." 

A motion is now made that all present be allowed 
to take part in the debate, which is carried. 

The shouts of two or three members now reach 

the ear of the president, who decides that Mr. 

has the floor. 

"Mr. President — There was somethino- which 
both gentlemen, who spoke on the negative, forgot 
to mention when they told us about emancipation 
in Jamaica. They forgot to tell us that the exports 
of the Island began to fall off long before the eman- 
cipation of the slaves ; and so, whatever that fact 
signifies, it is not wholly attributable to the abolition 
of slavery. They forgot to tell us another thing. 
They forgot to tell us that, while the exports fell oft' 
after the blacks obtained their freedom, the home 



252 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

consumption of the Island increased. In other 
words, the slaves produced more coffee, sugar, 
and rum for export under the lash than they did 
when free ; but that after the}' were free they got 
more to eat and drink, and if they labored less, they 
were lashed less. Who does n't know, that knows 
anything about this subject, that neither black man 
nor white man works any more than he is obliged 
to under the burning, enervating ra3's of a torrid 
sun? There is another thing the gentlemen forgot 
to tell us. They forgot to tell us that the planters, 
and their backers in England, did all they could to 
make emancipation a failure ; and that as fast as 
these old Bourbons, who learned nothing, and for- 
got nothing, died oft', the industry of the Island, 
that had been disturbed by the social revolution 
through which it had passed, resumed its accus- 
tomed channels." 

Other members followed with short speeches, 
which presented almost every phase of a contro- 
versy that was agitating all sections of the country, 
and which found utterance through the press and 
pulpit, in the halls of Congress, and at political 
gatherings, in stores and workshops, and at the 
corners of the streets, and wherever men met for 
the interchange of opinions. 

The last regular meeting of the society was held 
January 6th, 1859. 

The "Library Association" was formed in 1855. 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 253 

Soon after its organization it made provision for de- 
bates, to which the public were invited. Some of 
the most prominent members of the Young Men's 
Society, and of the Silsbee Street Club, took part 
in the discussions. This feature of the association 
continued but a short time. 

In 1857 the first " Christian Association " in Lynn 
was organized. Thomas P. Richardson was its 
first president. John C. Houghton was president 
during the second term, follo^^'^d by Stephen D. 
Poole. The rooms of the association were those 
occupied by the Library Association. There was 
a reading room for the use of members, containing 
newspapers, and a choice collection of books ; and 
during a portion of the time, a debating society was 
one of the prominent features of the organization. 
The membership of the association was quite large, 
comprising many well-known citizens. It disbanded 
about 1870. 

A literary association known as the " Athenian 
Club " was organized March 8th, 1858. Prominent 
among the members of this society were T. Harlan 
Breed, Samuel Gale, Jr., George D. Sargeant, 
Charles C. Richardson, Micajah N. Goodridge, P. 
W. Buder and John W. Berry. Several others, 
hardly less interested in its welfare, were enrolled 
as members of this club, whose membership in- 
cluded some sixty names. It had ten years of ac- 
tive life, running through the stormy period of the 



254 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

great civil war, which furnished topics of the most 
exciting character for discussion at their weekly 
meetings. A varied programme of literary exer- 
cises was provided, including a manuscript paper. 
Its anniversary occasions, combining both social 
and literary entertainment, were marked features 
in its history. Its last meeting was held March 
2d, 1868. 

A society called the " Irish Literary Association " 
was organized in the spring of 1859. Its member- 
ship was made up of many of our most prominent 
adopted citizens. Daniel Mullen, Daniel Fenton, 
Patrick Lennox, Michael Donovan and Daniel 
Donovan were chief among the organizers of this 
society. Later, James Phelan, James Riley, Thomas 
McAloon, the Healey brothers, William Shepard, 
John F. Donohoe, Timothy Donovan, Patrick J. 
Eagan, Dennis Horgan and Edward Mahon joined 
the association, and gave it their support. Mr. Mc- 
Aloon was specially active in promoting its interests. 
It held weekly meetings, and its constitution pro- 
vided for a varied programme of exercises. De- 
bates, declamations, the reading of a manuscript 
paper, formed part of the literary entertainment. 
These meetings were free to the public. At the_ 
outbreak of the civil war in 1861 many members 
of this association enlisted in the military service, 
as volunteers in the Massachusetts twenty-eighth 



LITERARY SOCIETIES OF LYNN. 255 

regiment. The organization disbanded in the Fall 
of 1873. 

The "Everett Debating Club,'.' composed of High 
School graduates, was formed June, 1870. Among 
its leading members were John R. Baldwin, Fred 
P. Goldthwait, A. W. Edgerly, Frederick B. 
Graves, Charles J. H. Woodbury, A. B. Breed 
and William H. Gove. Its constitution provided for 
an elaborate order of exercises — debates, a manu- 
script pfper, declamations and other literary enter- 
tainments. Their meetings were well attended, 
and their anniversary occasions, which displayed a 
high order of literary talent, attracted large audi- 
ences from the most cultivated classes in the com- 
munitv. Its last reo-ular meetintr was held in the 
Winter of 1879, but the organization is still kept up. 

Several literary societies not included in the 
above list, and having but a short existence, have 
been organized during the last ten years. Asso- 
ciations of this character are constantly being 
formed, some of them, doubtless, destined to a pro- 
longed existence. 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 



The first public library in Lynn was called the 
*' Social Library." It was organized in 1815, but 
did not receive its charter from the Legislature 
until 1818. There was, as stated by Mr. Newhall 
in his History of Lynn, a " good social library 
here " several years before this time, but it was not, 
probably, so " public " in its character. It is, of 
course, understood that our circulating libraries, of 
which there have been many in Lynn during the 
present century, are in some sense public libraries, 
the distinction being that the circulating library is 
usually under individual control, and its operations 
confined within narrow limits, while the public 
library is an incorporated institution, having a wider 
sphere of action. It is in this last sense that the 
writer uses the term, public library. 

The statute of Massachusetts permitting seven, 
or more, persons to form such an organization was 
passed in 1806. As this library association had 
failed to comply with all the requirements of this 
statute, during the three years from 1815 to 1818, 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 



257 



a formal meeting of the seventy-two shareholders 
was called, agreeably to a warrant signed by 
Richard Hazeltine, Alonzo Lewis, Samuel Hal- 
lowell, Josiah Newhall, Nehemiah Johnson, Tim- 
othy Johnson, Jr., and Richard Pratt, Jr. The 
meeting was held October, 1818. The directors 
for the first year (1819) were Richard Hazeltine, 
Ezra Mudge and Henry Newhall, and Alonzo 
Lewis was chosen librarian. Mr. Lewis held this 
post during the next seven years. He was followed 
by Asa U. Swinerton, who held the position for 
three years. Amos Rhodes followed Mr. Swiner- 
ton. holding the office some fifteen years. Mr. 
Rhodes was one of the most devoted friends of this 
institution, and was always ready to lend it a help- 
ing hand. The library at this time (1819) num- 
bered 205 volumes; in 1829, 717 volumes; in 1835, 
1012 volumes; in 1843, 1357 volumes. In 1850 
the property of the Social Library, including books 
and furniture, was transferred to the Natural His- 
tory Society — already mentioned — and this asso- 
ciation carried on the library until 1855, when the 
entire property, including the books of the old 
Social Library, and the books and curiosities of the 
Natural History Society, was transferred to the 
Library Association on condition that said associ- 
ation " should not convey the property to any person 
or persons for private uses." The number of volumes 
received by the Library Association was about 2000. 
33 



258 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

The Library Association was incorporated March 
24th, 1855. Qiiite a large number of books was 
added to the library while it was in the hands of 
this association, and the patronage of the institution 
was much increased. On the 14th of April, 1862, 
the entire property of the association, including the 
books and collection of curiosities, was transferred 
to the city. The transfer was made on condition 
that the books should never be disposed of for any 
private use, but should serve as a nucleus for a 
Free Public Library. The number of books at the 
time of the transfer was 3824. Soon after — Decem- 
ber 28th — the Christian Association presented its 
library — a small but choice selection of 276 volumes. 

The formation of the present Free Public Lib- 
rary seems to have grown out of the action of the 
Librar}^ Association in transferring its books to the 
city. The project was detinitely brought before 
the public in the inaugural of Peter M. Neal, mayor 
ofthecityin 1862. In his message of that year 
he says : 

" Our city ought to have been among Ihe first to give 
to its large and increasing reading community the benefits 
of such a library." 

An ordinance of the city, passed August 20th, 
1862, provided that nine trustees "shall have the 
sole charge, care, superintendence, and manage- 
ment of the books, and other property, conveyed to 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 



259 



the city of Lynn, b}- the Lynn Library Association, 
for the purpose of estabHshihg in said city a Free 
Public Library-, and of any additions thereto." 

The Hbrar}- went into operation at once. Tiie 
library committee purchased 1048 vokimes, makino- 
the whole number for public use 6042. The follow- 
ing gentlemen constituted the first board of trus- 
tees — President, Charles B. Holmes ; Secretary, 
William A. Brown ; Treasurer, Ezra W. Mudge ; 
John C. Houghton, David N. Johnson, Stephen N. 
Richardson, Charles C. Shackford, Amos P. Tap- 
ley ; members ex officio^ Peter M. Neal and Jesse 
L. Attwill. During the eighteen years since the 
establishment of the librar}^ 22,000 volumes have 
been added, including the small number given by 
individuals, being an average of little less than 1300 
volumes annually. 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 



For most of the facts and figures contained in the 
following history of our fire department, and espe- 
cially for those pertaining to the early years of its 
organization, the writer is indebted to Joseph M. 
Rowell, whose researches in all matters relating to 
the origin and growth of the several fire companies, 
running through a period of more than eighty years, 
have been guided by an intelligent appreciation of 
the great interests represented in this branch of the 
public service. As an active member, and chief 
officer, of one of the organizations for many years, 
and afterward as chief engineer of the department, 
he became possessed of a complete knowledge of 
its requirements, and was foremost in advocating a 
wise and comprehensive policy. His reports are 
characterized by a breadth of view, as well as a 
mastery of details, that gave them more than the 
passing interest of the period to which they relate, 
and which invested them with a historic value that 
it is not easy to estimate. The improvements that 
have been made in the means and appliances de- 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 261 

signed for the preservation of property against the 
ravages of fire as clearly illustrate the progress of 
the last fift}'^ years as anything that can be seen in 
that era of mechanical and industrial revolution. 

The first enoine used in Lvnn was numbered i, 
as might be supposed, and named " Relief." It 
was purchased in 1797 with money raised by sub- 
SQ'iption, and the record states that the names of 
Andrews Breed and Dr. James Gardiner were chief 
among the contributors. Timothy Munroe, Sr., 
was chosen its first captain. A small building was 
built on the common, a little northwest of what is 
now the Frog Pond, and the new machine w^as 
placed therein, and gazed at by a good many citi- 
zens of that early time. If any one who wanted 
■ to see it had waited until it was taken out by the 
"boys" on an alarm of fire, he might have waited 
several years, or at least a few, before a chance 
happened that would test its wondrous powers. A 
burnincr house was much rarer at that time than a 
flood, and the inhabitants of the low lands had more 
occasion for a dory than for fire buckets and en- 
gines. The engine was built by the father of 
Stephen Thayer. It had a four-inch cylinder, with 
a ten-inch stroke, giving it a capacity of one hun- 
dred and twenty-five cubic inches. 

The young man of the present day has little idea 
of the performance of an engine like this ; and those 
familiar with the comparatively powerful machines 



262 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

in use just before the introduction of the steam fire en- 
gine, would have smiled to see this good-sized box 
on its way to a fire, drawn by a dozen men, and as 
many more chasing it with leather buckets. But 
at that day probably a much larger proportion of 
the inhabitants of the town, old and young, turned 
out to see it, than now turns out to see Barnum's 
circus, or a parade of the Eighth Regiment. There 
were but two such chances to smile for the next 
nine 3'ears. The first was some two years after its 
appearance in town, when the barn of Micajah 
Newhall was struck by lightning, in August, 1799, 
and set on fire and totally destroyed. This barn 
was near the corner of South Common and Vine 
streets. History informs us that No. i was on 
hand, and did good service in protecting the adja- 
cent buildings. The second was on August i8th, 
1803, when it run to Nahant to aid in putting out 
the fire occasioned by the burning of the hotel 
belonging to Capt. Joseph Johnson ; but it did not 
arrive soon enough to do any good. 

No other great event bearing on the interest of 
the department occurred until 1806, when a new 
interest seems to have been awakened by a ques- 
tion growing out of military duty required of the 
citizen. In order to have a clear understanding of 
this matter, it is necessary to state that in 1786 an 
act was passed by the legislature of Massachusetts 
exempting engine men from military service to the 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 263 

number of fifteen men for each company. The popu- 
lation of Lynn — including at the time Lynnfield, 
Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott — was increas- 
ing very fast, and had risen from 2837, in 1800, to 
4087, in 18 10. "Within these limits a regiment of 
militia was already formed under the command of 
Col. Mansfield. A number of 3'oung men in what 
is now Lynn city, equipped and formed themselves 
into a company of light infantry. They applied to 
the colonel for admission into the regiment. It was 
understood that some encouragement had been 
given them, and the colonel promised to lay their 
application before the board of officers at their next 
meeting. When the day of meeting came the 
colonel opposed the whole project, and the applica- 
tion was refused. The applicants were, of course, 
indignant, and looked about for some channel in 
which to expend their surplus wrath. To "spite 
Joel " — to use a phrase current some years after- 
ward — they became active in the formation of four 
more fire companies, which were organized in the 
next six months. 

No. 2 was first organized by the choice of John 
Mudge as captain, and four hundred and twenty 
dollars ($420) were raised to purchase an engine. 
It was built by the father of the firm of Hunneman 
& Co., and had a three-inch cvlinder and fifteen- 
inch stroke. It had four quarter-brakes, which 
were placed parallel to the line of the lever or beam, 



264 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

and on these were hung the buckets. When the 
brakes were worked they were pulled out to give a 
better leverage ■ — the tallest man working on the 
outer end. The engine was paid for October nth, 
1806. A small house was built over the canal on 
Federal street to receive it. An elegant sign over 
the door told the passer-by that engine No. 2, 
named the " Despatch," was within, at least when 
not outside discharging the special duty for which 
it was constructed. It also represented, the his- 
torian, (Mr. Rowell,) informs us, a company run- 
ning to a fire dressed in the height of fashion, includ- 
ing ruffle -bosomed shirts and white gloves, the 
captain having in addition buff' breeches and white- 
topped boots. The historian intimates that this 
was probably designed to give dignity to the asso- 
ciation, and that their ideas had not been modified 
by practice. One can imagine how those " white 
gloves " would have looked, and especially those 
"topped boots," after the wearers had run three or 
four miles through " Black Marsh " mud seventy 
years ago, and had handled a few charred timbers, 
and had been drenched through three or tour times 
with muddy water. But perhaps that suit was for 
a firemen's muster. 

In December, 1806, "Reliance," No. 3, was pur- 
chased of Mr. Hunneman by Samuel Chase. It 
cost four hundred and twenty dollars, and was 
similar in construction to No. 2, and of the same 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 265 

capacity. A house similar to those ah-eady built 
was erected on the spot where, several years after, 
the large engine house was erected for the same 
company. This was near the site of Breed & 
Holder's coal office, on Broad street, a few rods 
eastward of the fine brick edifice erected for the 
accommodation of steamer No. 4, in 1878. Amos 
Breed was chosen captain of the old No. 3. 

On February 27th, 1807, "Perseverance," No. 
4, was bought for the special accommodation of 
Glenmere — then Gravesend. It was of the same 
pattern as Nos. 2 and 3, and its cost the same. It 
was sold by Mr. Hunneman to Robert Mansfield. 
The house built for its accommodation was on 
Maple street, where it stood until it was replaced 
by a larger structure built near the same spot. 
Epes Mansfield was chosen captain. 

About the same date "Eclipse," No. 5, was 
bought by John Ingalls of Mr. Hunneman. It was 
of the same pattern as those already purchased, 
and Abner Ingalls was chosen its captain. The 
engine house was on the south side of Villag-e 
Square. This was the last engine purchased for a 
long time, and the historian remarks that the Fire 
Department of Lynn, as it was constituted for sev- 
eral years, was complete. From figures furnished 
Mr. Rowell by the Messrs. Hunneman, it seems 
that the four engines purchased by Lynn were 
numbered on their books as 12, 14, 15, and 16, 
34 



266 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

which shows that these encrines were among the 
first built at that famous establishment. 

The next opportunity for active service was on 
October 31st, 1808, when the barn of Theodore 
Breed was set on fire by a boy — as was supposed 
— and nearly destroyed. Four days after, the barn 
of Jacob Chase, near the corner of North Common 
and Franklin streets, was nearly destroyed, and 
would have been wholly consumed, had it not been 
for the service rendered by the Fire Department. 
The same incendiary, it was supposed, set this on 
fire. So unusual a circumstance, at that time, 
created a great excitement. 

In 181 1 the number of each company was in- 
creased from fifteen to twent3'-five. This was a 
new era in another particular. No. 5 established 
the precedent of having an annual supper, at which 
every member was expected to be present or pay a 
fine of one dollar and fifty cents. This expedient 
probably brought out all the company who were 
not under the doctor's hands. The historian ob- 
serves that the war with Great Britain, in 181 2, put 
a damper on this arrangement, as no recurrence of 
this festival appears on the record until after the 
close of the war. 

In 18 14 the several engine companies were in- 
vited by the " fire wards " to test their machines 
near the (then) new Methodist Church at the head 
of the Common. No. 5 was pronounced the "best 



THE ENGINE COxMPANIES OF LYNN. 267 

engine in town." This was, doubtless, the begin- 
ning- of a custom which, in later days when rivalry 
among the several companies had reached its 
highest pitch, would draw a larger crowd than 
anything else except an old-fashioned muster. 
This crowd gathered — we will suppose — twentv 
3^ears ago, would have smiled audibly to see these 
five "tubs " heat up the enthusiasm of their mem- 
bers to fever point as they pumped out several 
gallons of water a minute, while as much more was 
poured in from the leather fire-buckets passed along 
from hand to hand trom the nearest well. 

Enoch Curtin was the clerk of No. 5. He was 
an elegant penman, and to his full and accurate 
records the public are indebted for a knowled<'-e, 
not only of the histor}- of this organization, but in- 
cidentally for many facts setting forth the general 
condition of the department as a whole. Under 
date of July 3d, 1815, he says: "Examined the 
engine, and (with a disposition to dispatch business 
with the greatest celerity) adjourned." The ex- 
planation is, that this was the evening before the 
first anniversary of Independence after the close of 
the second war with Great Britain, and that their 
patriotism ran high enough to justif}^ them in spend- 
ing the evening somewhere outside of the engine 
house. "January 27th, 1816, a fire broke out at 
the house of Abijah Newhall, but was almost im- 
mediately checked by No. 5." The following from 



268 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

the record shows that No. 5 was on hand whenever 
needed : 

" 1S17, August i6th. — A cry of fire alarmed the in- 
habitants of Woodend, accompanied by the ringing of 
bells, and the blowing of horns. It was with haste they 
stayed the element which was perceived at the factory of 
Squire Shove." 

" 1819, January 36th. — The cry of fire, which was 
perceived at Enoch Curtin's store, alarmed the inhabi- 
tants of Woodend. With the haste and energy of our 
men, the consuming fire was stayed." 

" 1S20. — A cry of fire, and the ringing of bells and the 
blowing of horns alarmed the inhabitants of Woodend. 
With despatch and haste the engine was got out and 
proceeded toward the destructive element, which was 
discerned to be at Joseph Breed's barn. By exertions 
it was extinguished." 

The next engine was not bouc^ht until more than 
four years had passed. In August, 181 1, No. 6 
was bought of Stephen Thayer for four hundred 
and tweny-five dollars. It had a four and one-half 
inch cylinder and a ten-inch stroke, and was the 
same pattern as No. i. Eben Oakman, who lived 
in what is now East Saugus, was active in procur- 
ing this engine, and when the company was formed 
was chosen its captain. The engine house was 
built near the spot where the East Saugus station 
now stands, but was afterward moved to the op- 
posite side of the river, when the railroad ran 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 269 

through the village. When Saugus was separated 
from Lynn, in 1815, the act of incorporation pre- 
scribed that the town of Saugus should furnish nine 
members to the company, and the remainder to be 
furnished from Lynn. Soon atler the engine was 
bought, the selectmen of the town eno-as-ed one of 
the inhabitants of the village to furnish a fre-Jjook 
for the company. The job was completed, but the 
implement was so enormous that it was not conven- 
ient to handle it. According to information fur- 
nished by one who had seen it, the hook looked 
like a schooner's anchor, and about the size ; while 
the pole or shaft to w^iich it was attached was eight 
inches in diameter, and as long in proportion. 
Fifty men could manage it without much trouble, 
and if there were not enough men in the village, it 
is presumed that a sufficient force could be got out 
of town. It is said that this effort at mechanism 
was not appreciated by the company, who declined 
to avail themselves of its latent possibilities ; and so 
it w^as a '^ dead loss to somebod}'." 

In 1824 the people of Swampscott thought the 
time had come when they should have the advan- 
tages of a fire engine, to be located in their village. 
The young men, especially, w^ere interested in the 
enterprise, as it would give them exemption from 
military duty, which required them to appear at 
stated times " armed and equipped as the law di- 
rects." Accordingly an engine was purchased of 



270 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Mr. Thayer, of Boston. This was named the 
"Assistant," and numbered 7. It was the exact 
pattern of Nos. I and 6, except that the cylinders 
were one-half inch larger. The historian suggests 
that " the rivalry that afterward existed in the de- 
partment originated with that generation." Eph- 
raim Ingalls was chosen captain of the new com- 
pany, and a house was built for its accommodation 
on the ledofe near the fishincj beach. This house 
stood on this spot until within a few years, and the 
engine did good service whenever it was needed, 
which was very seldom the case at home, as Swamp- 
scott has enjoyed a remarkable exemption from 
fires. It was always read}', however, when the 
L3'nn bells sounded the alarm, to start at the 
shortest notice, manned by as hardy a crew as ever 
worked the brakes. They did not stop to shake 
hands before they started, and as they came up 
Lewis street there was every appearance that they 
had business to attend to. 

The year 1833 marked a new era in the fire de- 
partment of Lynn. One cold morning in Januar}', 
the shoe manufactory of David Ta3'lor was dis- 
covered to be on fire. This factory was situated 
on the spot where engine No. 8 was afterward 
located. The department rallied, but their best 
efforts were unavailing to save the building, which 
was destroyed with all its contents. " The ther- 
mometer was at zero," sa3's the historian ; " some 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 27 1 

of the engines froze up, and many of the firemen 
were frost-bitten. Some were covered with ice, 
and were obHged to give up their efforts, their 
armor of ice making them more helpless than 
though thev had been encased in a coat of mail. 
In this emergency, the ladies came to the aid of the 
firemen, and displayed a most extraordinary amount 
of fortitude and endurance." This fire showed that 
the engines then in use could not be relied on in 
case of a large conflagration. The reader will 
understand that up to this time the simple fire en- 
gine only pumped the water from the "tub," which 
was supplied from the buckets as they were passed 
along — the full buckets down one line from the 
well, or pond, and the empty ones back again to 
be refilled. 

The self-drafting, or " suction engine," as it was 
called, was now introduced, and No. 3 was the 
first to avail themselves of this great improvement. 
A contract was made with Mr. Godfrey, of Boston, 
to furnish one, and the engine was built during the 
year 1833. The following description of the ma- 
chine, given by Mr. Rowell, will interest firemen, 
and probably some others. It was a side-stroke 
piano machine, the pump of which, instead of being 
a cylinder, was more in the form of a ship's quad- 
rant. Its size was about ten inches from top to 
bottom, and was about eight inches thick, and 
through the top of which, working in an air-tight 



272 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

collar, passed the shaft to which was connected the 
cam and brakes. Inside the quadrant, and firmly 
secured to the shaft, was a plate of iron called a 
fan, about an inch thick, and of the same shape as 
the length and width of the quadrant, the edges 
being packed with leather ; and when the brakes 
were worked it moved from side to side of the 
quadrant, alternately on each of these sides. Out- 
side of the quadrant was a hollow chamber, called 
the water-wav, though the water passed into, and 
out of, the pump into a globe-shaped air-chamber 
above the shaft. A branch connected the inlet 
with the water-ways, similar to that now used by 
the Button engine. It was very powerful in draft- 
ing, but worked heavily, and was, to use a common 
expression, a "regular man-killer." The suction 
branch, being made of sheet-copper, was contmu- 
ally breaking, frequently at a time when the active 
service of the engine was required, vexing the 
company with its repeated failures. 

This was the first engine associated with the 
boyish recollections of the writer. To the boys of 
"Black Marsh," (usually called Black Mask,) this 
engine stood as the embodiment and representative 
of all hydraulic possibilities. There was thought 
to be an immense latent power stowed away in her 
somewhere, and suggestive hints and emphatic nods 
were given, intended to express the belief that if 
this occult power could be got out of her nothing 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 273 

constructed on this continent, in the shape of a fire 
extinguisher could stand along side of her for a 
minute. To bring out, in some small degree, this 
power, pulleys were attached to the brakes. The 
ropes ran through sheaves fastened to the lower 
part of the engine, and a dozen men and boys on 
either side of the " tub " pulled at these ropes to aid 
the brakemen in making her show her hidden 
strength. As this was the only "" suction engine " 
in Lynn at the time, " Old 3 " reigned supreme for 
a while, till one mightier came and disputed her 
empire. 

The example set by No. 3 w^as followed by the 
people living near the western end of the Common. 
David Taylor led off by contributing two hundred 
dollars for the purpose of buying an engine, and 
building a house to receive it. Others followed in 
sums varying from one hundred to twenty-five dol- 
lars, the whole amount somewhat exceeding one 
thousand two hundred dollars. A contract was 
entered into with Stephen Thayer, of Boston, to 
furnish an engine and hose carriage for the sum of 
eight hundred dollars. The engine was finished 
and delivered on Fast Day, 1834. It was a suction 
machine, six and one-fourth inch cylinder, and ten 
and twelve inch stroke, with a ten-foot beam and 
fourteen-foot brakes, giving room for twenty-eight 
men. For its size it was a smart machine, and the 
compan3^ of which James A. Mears was the first 
35 



274 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

foreman, took great pride in showing her off. As 
might be expected, a rivahy at once sprang up 
between the company and No. 3, which continued 
with varying degrees of intensity as long as the 
companies existed. 

In 1835 t^"^^ ^ct incorporating the Fire Depart- 
ment of the town of L}'nn was passed, and was 
accepted by the inhabitants in town meeting assem- 
bled. The town also voted to assume the respon- 
sibility of keeping those engines in repair, and ready 
for constant use, which should be given up by the 
proprietors. The consequence was that all were 
given up, and the department was organized by the 
election of twelve engineers and three assistants, 
who had under their control two suction and six 
" tub " engines, and two hose carriages. As the 
town increased in size fires became more frequent. 
Some of these are worthy of mention, as having an 
important bearing in direct!}' leading to improve- 
ments of which the fire department availed itself. 

On the fifth of July, 1836, the first firemen's 
muster occurred under the new organization. The 
interest shown in the new machines lessened the 
interest taken in the old-fashioned " tubs." '^ The 
records of the two new engines — 3 and 8 — are 
wanting for this year," says Mr. Rowell, who 
derived his account of the contest from such verbal 
information as he was able to collect. The follow- 
ing is his account of the trial : " From this it appears 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 275 

that each in turn drafted and suppHed the other, 
each receiving-engine playing through a three- 
fourths pipe, and each getting all the}^ could take 
care of. I should judge that 3's company wore the 
shortest faces, and we may conclude that thev felt 
perfect contidence in the ability of their machine as 
a drafting engine. No. 8's company telt a little 
sore, and were loud in their denunciation of using 
so small a pipe." 

This brings us down to a period within the mem- 
ory of many now living ; and as the interest in- 
creased as time went on, some of the reminiscences 
of the next fifteen or twenty years recall scenes in 
which the firemen of Lynn played a part that at- 
tracted the attention of all interested in such matters 
for miles around ; "Lynn having been an important 
battle-ground," as Mr. Rowell remarks, " for nearly 
all the New England builders." 

The next company organized was No. 9 — 1836 
— and an engine was purchased of A. Bisbee & 
Co., of Boston, which cost one thousand dollars, 
the town paying seven hundred dollars. It was 
called the "Niagara." They built a house on 
Essex street, near what is now the corner of John- 
son street included in the City Hall lot, where it 
stood till 1848. 

The next engine bought, in 1837, was bv the old 
No. 5 company, whose engine, as we have seen, 
was purchased in 1806. The company now took 



276 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

the name of "Torrent," a name more appropriate, 
it would seem, than the " EcHpse," which rather 
suggests an opaque signification. The engine was 
buih by J. S. Hill, of Salem, at an expense of one 
thousand and fifty dollars, paid by the town. The 
engine house, said to have been the " best in the 
town" at that time, was built by the company. 

The " Silver Greys " came next. The company 
was organized in the same year — 1837 — using 
the old "Eclipse," No. 5. The town built an 
engine house at an expense of three hundred dol- 
lars. It was afterward enlarged at an expense of 
two hundred and fifty dollars more. It stood first 
on Portland street, but was afterward removed to 
Chestnut street. In 1844, a new engine was bought 
of the Messrs. Thayer, of Boston, at the cost of 
seven hundred dollars, of which the town paid four 
hundred dollars. 

The old company, "Perseverance," No. 4, now 
thought it was time to have a " suction engine," 
and in 1839 the town purchased one of Hunneman 
& Co., and built an engine house, at an expense, 
for both, of one thousand dollars. 

There were now six suction engines in town of 
nearly equal capacit}^ built by four different makers. 
As a matter of course the feeling of rivalry ran 
high, not only among the firemen of Lynn, but 
among all classes out of town, as well, who "blowed" 
for their favorite engine, whether it was a "Thayer 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 277 

tub " or a machine made by some other famous 
builder. Besides the formal trials alluded to, the 
purpose of which was to test the capacity of the 
several eng-ines, every lire was an occasion when 
the " boys " showed their ambition to prove the 
superiority of the "tubs" for which they "blowed." 
No. 3, by chance, would be stationed at the well or 
pond, a thousand feet, or more, from the fire ; next 
to No. 3 stood No. 5, then No. 8, then No. 9, which 
played on the fire ; or any other arrangement that 
might be supposed. Then some engine would get 
" washed." No. 3's ambition would be to give No. 
5 all the water she wanted, and No. 5 would strain 
every nerve to give No. 8 more than she wanted. 
Now the cry of " break her down " would be heard 
along the line ; then some " side-walk " members 
would make an encouraging remark, as they sur- 
veyed the situation. Then it would be discovered 
that the water in No. 9's " tub " was rising. Again 
the cry would be heard, "break her down, 8;" 
and soon the water would be pouring over the sides 
of No. 9, and a shout would go up from No. 8's 
crew, comprehensive in its volume, and miscella- 
neous in its character ; and if any of No. 9's crew 
had come out in the hurry of the occasion with 
" pumps " on, they would be likely to go home with 
damp stockings. Perhaps before this crisis would 
be reached an accident would happen that did n't 
seem to have any reference to hydraulic pressure. 



278 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

There seemed to be a remarkable coincidence be- 
tween the time of the accident and the exio-encies 
of the situation. It did n't seem to make much dif- 
ference whether the hose was new or old. It would 
burst just the same. Then somebody would in- 
quire what made that hose burst. Then somebody 
would examine it. Then a few would look wise. 
Then several would make remarks, and put in 
some of the most emphatic adjectives in the En- 
glish language in just the place to give them the 
most telling effect, as though they had been selected 
for the occasion. "Perhaps this is all right," one 
would say, "but it's (adjective) curious that that 
hose happened to burst just at that time, and just in 
that place." As already intimated, various episodes 
were likely to occur. As, by the above arrange- 
ment, the " laboring oar " would come to No. 3's 
crew and engine, it would sometimes be discovered 
that the water in No. 5's " tub " was lowering ; then 
her crew would " spring to it," and soon the cry " no 
water ! hold on ! " would be heard along the line. 
Then the invidious and suggestive inquiry would 
be directed to No. 3's crew, whether "Aunt Carter's 
well had given out." (This well had never failed 
to respond to any demands made upon it b}^ the fire 
department, being supplied — as was supposed — 
by a subterranean stream running at the bottom.) 
Then, perhaps, the response from No. 3 would be — 
"Change places, will you? We'll drv vou up in 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 279 

about three minutes." But perhaps the fire occurred 
too far off to make Aunt Carter's, or any other un- 
failing well, available; then fifteen minutes' time 
was long enough to drain almost any well in 
the neio-hborhood, and the signal — Hold on! no 
zvatcr!'' would be given. Then there w^ould be a 
start for some other well or source of supply, and 
in the mean time the fire would have a good chance 
to get well under way. 

It wall be seen from this that considerable interest 
was manifested in the working of the several ma- 
chines. It must not be inferred from this that the 
burning building was entirely overlooked. Con- 
siderable water w^as played upon the fire. Now 
and then a deed of daring would occur that would 
excite the admiration of the spectators, and call 
forth loud plaudits from the assembled multitude ; 
for it must be borne in mind that in those earlier 
days nearly all the town turned out to see the com- 
paratively rare sight of a building on fire. The 
boys, especially, were there in large numbers. It 
was considered as something akin to disgrace for a 
bo}' to ignore the claims of such an occasion to his 
presence and encouraging influence, and, if need 
be, to his services in eating the crackers and cheese 
after the fire was over. And so, when ''Joe" or 
"Jim" mounted the ladder, pipe in hand, and dis- 
appeared in the smoke, and afterward emerged 
drenched with water, and his face blackened by 



2So SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

too close contact with charred timbers, a 3'ell of 
applause would go up from the juvenile crowd, and 
from a good many others who were too old to be 
juvenile. The cheers were especially loud from 
that part of the crowd which "stuck up" or "blowed" 
for the engine to which "Joe " or "Jim " belonged. 

Perhaps an engine from the outskirts of the town 
would now make its appearance, and a good deal 
of noise. Then some of the boys would inquire 
why it hadn't waited till the next day. Now it 
would appear that there was danger that the fire 
would communicate to adjoining buildings. Then 
the old " Sagamore Hook and Ladder Company " 
would be on hand with its ladders for mounting the 
buildings ; its hooks to pull down whatever might 
be thought to add to the danger of the situation ; 
and with sails ready to spread over the buildings 
most exposed. Nothing suited the boys better than 
to get a chance to pull on one of the ropes attached 
to one of these hooks that was fastened to a corner 
post of a-small wooden building half burned down. 
Once in a while one of the hooks would lose its 
hold, or break. Then several would go over back- 
wards. Then a good many more would hurrah. 
In the meantime the whole philosophy of putting 
out fires was discussed on the neighboring side- 
walks, and one could hear where each engine 
ought to be stationed, and what each captain should 
order to be done. "Now. if 'Old Eiijht' would 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 28 1 

just go round to the back part of that building, and 
put a stream on that north corner, that would fix 
it."' The captains of these engines probably never 
knew how complete a programme was marked out 
for them. But whether they followed the line 
marked out or not, the fire at last succumbed, and 
if it was one of considerable importance, the next 
thing in order would be the collation provided by 
some generous citizens. The boys were not indif- 
ferent spectators of this frequent accompaniment to 
a firemen's turn out for actual service. In fact, 
they were not at all willing to be spectators merely 
— much less indifferent spectators. In short, their 
interest was of the most active and lively kind. 
They were ready to stand in front of a pot of coffee 
till it was all gone ; and, in an emergency, would 
use a reasonable amount of individual exertion to 
make it go. 

Atl:er fourteen years' service, the Godfrey engine, 
No. 3, was exchanged, in 1847, for a Hunneman 
" tub," the town paying a balance of five hundred 
dollars. In the same year the Torrent, No. 5, was 
exchanged for one built by Leslie, of Newburyport, 
the town paying a balance of six hundred and fort}'- 
five dollars. 

In 1S50, the Niagara, No. 9, was exchanged for 
one built by Howard & Davis, which cost nine 
hundred and fifty dollars, the town paying a bal- 
ance of five hundred dollars. The house and ap- 
36 



282 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

paratus had been removed from Essex street to 
Franklin street — 1848 — and the house enlarged, 
at an expense of two hundred and sixty-eight 
dollars. In 185 1, the Silver Grey, No. 10, was 
thoroughlv repaired at an expense of three hundred 
dollars, and again in 1856, costing the city six hun- 
dred and forty-four dollars. The last repairs com- 
pletely remodeled the engine, " nothing of the orig- 
inal remaining," facetiously says the historian al- 
ready quoted, "except the bell." 

In 1854, the Volunteer, No. 8 — after having 
been repaired twice at an expense of three hundred 
dollars — was laid aside and a new one was pur- 
chased of Howard & Davis, of Boston, which, in- 
cludin<»- a hose carriage, cost one thousand two 
hundred and twenty-nine dollars, of which the city 
paid one thousand dollars. 

When the Perseverance company No. 4, of 
Gravesend — since Glenmere — received their new 
Hunneman engine in 1839, ^^ ^0°^ ^^^^ name of 
" Tiger." Twenty years afterward — 1859 — their 
engine house — having been once enlarged at an 
expense of one hundred and sixty-six dollars — was 
sold, and the proceeds, amounting to one hundred 
and fifty dollars, and an appropriation of one thou- 
sand and fiftv-six dollars, were used in building the 
present house. 

There were now six new engines — or nearlv so — 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 283 

of capacity so nearly equal that the rivalry amono- 
them was kept at fever point. 

For some ten years prior to the introduction of 
steam fire engines into our city — 1864 — the fire 
department of Lvnn held a hip-h rank amono- the 
fire departments of the chief cities of the Common- 
wealth. The rivalry among the several companies 
tended to keep each organization in a high state of 
efficiency. Whenever a new engine was purchased 
it was expected — by its own company at least — 
to be a little better and smarter than any other in the 
city. Each one was supposed to be specially strong 
in some one direction. One was the most power- 
ful drafting engine ; another was the most easily 
worked in the city ; a third, the best looking- one 
that had 3^et made its appearance, having a large 
amount of brass and gilt ornament that made it 
gleam like a golden chariot in the rays of the set- 
ting sun, and it did n't gleam much less when a 
noontide or a morning sun shone upon it. The 
rivals of such an engine would be likely to give it 
a fancy name, as the "Piano." 

In 1 85 1, No. 5 changed their engine, bought in 
1847, for another by the same builder, the company 
paying the difference, five hundred and sixty dol- 
lars. In 1859, the sum of two hundred and eighty 
dollars was appropriated to repair the engine of 
company No. 3, purchased of Hunneman in 1847. 
But the company preferred another, and obtained 



284 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

leave to exchange their old engine for a new one, 
and to nse the appropriation so far as it would go, 
the compan}' paying the dit^erence. The exchange 
was made with Hunneman & Co., and the cost was 
two thousand two hundred dollars. This was the 
highest cost of any engine in Lynn up to this time. 
The company thought there was nothing in the city 
quite equal to it, and a good many in the neighbor- 
hood favored that opinion. It was a splendid ma- 
chine, and its crew were not afraid to put it along- 
side of anything in the shape of a hre engine for 
miles around. 

In 1861, No. 4, the company at Glenmere, 
changed their engine, bought of Hunneman & Co., 
for a new one built by William Jeffers, of Pawtucket, 
R. I. This was the last hand fire engine bought 
in Lynn. Two thousand dollars were paid besides 
the old engine, the city paying one thousand dol- 
lars, the company making up the remainder. Not 
one of the company, probably, thought this engine 
a poor one. On the contrary, they were ready to 
put it against any similar invention in or out of 
town. And they had pretty good reason for their 
confidence, as their engine took more prizes in 
succeeding' vears than any other machine — if the 
writer is not mistaken — within the limits of the 
citv, and, perhaps, beyond its limits. But it was 
equally ready for service whenever called upon, 
whether the call came from far or near. On a sul- 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 285 

try Fourth of July, about this time, a tire broke out 
near one of the wharves in East Boston. A veteran 
fireman from Lynn, sauntering along near one of 
the wharves on the other side, in Boston proper, 
heard the alarm and saw the blaze, which was the 
beginning of what proved to be a disastrous con- 
flagration. With the instinct of a fireman, he made 
his nearest way to the spot. He there met " Old 
Cambridge 3," as he expressed it, and recognizing 
old acquaintances, was soon at work on the brakes, 
as much at home as though he had hold of the 
brakes of No. 10, as she played from the well at 
Charley Chase's corner. As the fire spread, they 
were driven from one wharf to another, makino- 
serious work for the firemen as it threw out its flam- 
ing signals that were seen for miles around. One 
engine after another arrived to lend its assistance, 
until one hove in sight that had a familiar look to 
our veteran fireman at work on the brakes ; and as 
she came nearer he espied "Old Ben," as he was 
familiarly called, stripped to his pants, at the head 
of his company of " Tigers." They had come at 
no slow pace all the way from Gravesend — not 
less than ten miles — the heat of the day being 
equaled only by their zeal to be on hand whenever 
their services might be needed. It was said that 
the time made was one hour and twenty minutes. 

An alarm of fire in old times, and even as late as 
the introduction of the steam fire engine, was often 



286 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

attended with some amusing pertormances. Till 
within about forty-live years there were but two 
bells in town ; one on the " Old Tunnel," as it was 
then called, now the Second Universalist, at the 
corner of South Common and Commercial streets, 
and the other in the belfry of the First Methodist 
church, at the east end of the Common, opposite 
the City Hall. The first was hung at a date un- 
known, the second in 1816. The bell on the First 
Universalist church, on Union street, (since 1872 
the Fourth Baptist, ) was hung in 1835 • That on the 
Second Methodist church, Woodend, a litde later. 
If a fire occurred in Woodend — before these last 
dates — it would take some dme to get the alarm to 
West Lynn. Vociferous yelling, pitched to all 
sorts of keys, from the shrill tenor of the small boy, 
to the deep, if not sonorous bass of the full-grown 
man, was heard all over town, as fast as the alarm 
spread, till somebody got hold of the bell-rope, and 
the people were thoroughl}- aroused. At first the 
starding inquiry would be, "Where's the fire?" 
Very miscellaneous answers were given to this 
quesdon. "I heard the ' Old Tunnel ' strike first." 
"No, the Methodist struck first." No, no, it's up 

t' other way. Capt'n says it "s in Upper 

Swampscott ; he 's just come from there." Some- 
dmes things would get a good deal mixed up. Tv.'o 
engines, going in opposite directions, bound for the 
same place, would meet in the middle of a street. 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 287 

Then would be heard a "hurrah/' and a "guffaw," 
and a new start would be made tor the fire. 

Old engine men will here be reminded of the 
false alarms that used to harass the firemen, rouse 
the whole city, and add a few^ hundred dollars to 
current municipal expenses. Nothing suited a boy 
better — some of them of good size — than to raise 
a false alarm. One of these w^ould set up a yell 
that sounded somewhat like the cry of fire. An- 
other, a few rods distant, would take up the cry, 
and the yell would sound a little more like fire. 
A third, not far off, pretending to understand this 
as a genuine alarm, would shout fire with unmis- 
takeable distinctness, and run for the nearest bell- 
rope, or start for the nearest engine house. Satur- 
day evening was more generally the time for these 
performances. The records of the fire department 
show more cases of false alarms in a single 3^ear, 
at that period, than have occurred since the intro- 
duction of the telegraphic fire alarm, some ten years 
ago. 

Half or two-thirds of the town would turn out and 
run in the supposed direction of the burning build- 
ing. More fuss was made, and more noise, w'hen 
a barn worth two hundred dollars w^as found to be 
on fire, than would now be occasioned by the burn- 
ing of a whole block. A fire in old times was a 
town talk lor weeks. When the building got on 
fire, how it got on fire, by whom first seen, and 



288 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

where, and how much it was burnt when first 
seen, and all other points connected with the event 
were exhaustively considered in shoemakers' shops, 
from Saugus to Swampscott. 

The years 1857 and 1858 were memorable in the 
engine history of L3mn, for in those years several 
firemen's musters and displays took place in various 
parts of the State, and in some of these the firemen 
of Lynn were specially interested. All kinds of 
trials were made to test the capacity of the respec- 
tive machines. There was horizontal playing, and 
perpendicular playing, and there was, besides, a 
tank to be filled in the shortest time possible. For 
the benefit of the uninitiated — and there will be a 
good man}' of that kind a hundred years hence — 
it may be well to say, that in perpendicular play- 
ing the stream of water was forced as high as pos- 
sible into the air. In horizontal playing the pipe 
was held at such an angle that the stream struck 
the ground at the greatest possible distance from 
the nozzle of the pipe. At the trial in 1857, No. 8 
took the first prize of $25 ; No. 3, the second, of 
$15 ; No. 4, the third, of $10. No. 3 also took 
the prize of $10 in filling the tank in the shortest 
time. 

In Worcester, September, 1858, at the grand 
display of all the most noted engines in the State, 
No. 9 came home crowned with laurels. She had 
won the first prize, and on her return home No. 3 



THE ENGINE COMPANIES OF LYNN. 289 

gave her a reception, and she was escorted about the 
streets of L^'nnbyher sister companies, Nos. 8 and 
lo, who were hardly less proud of the triumph than 
the victors themselves. The proud day was cele- 
brated with music, banners, speeches, collations, 
and various minor forms of festivit}'. To have 
belonged to No. 9 at that time w^as hardly less an 
honor than to have been a member of Napoleon's 
" Old Guard," or a survivor of the scenes of Bunker 
Hill. No engine man now living has forgotten that 
day. But the introduction of the steam fire engine 
changed all this. The eight or ten engines, each 
with a company of fifty members, have given place 
to three steamers — and a fourth as a reserve — each 
manned by twelve men. The telegraphic fire 
alarm — setup in 1871 — now sends its message 
instantaneously to every quarter of the city, desig- 
nating, within a few rods, the spot where stands 
the burning building. From this time the glory of 
the old fire companies, with all the trappings of 
their gilded "machines," and all their rivalries, 
their victories over the devouring flames, and their 
triumphs on the field of contest departed forever. 



37 



LYNN COMMON. 



The Common of the ante-revohitionary period — 
as well as of a much later time — was quite a dif- 
ferent looking place from the Common as it appears 
to-day. Precisely what its boundaries were in early 
times it is impossible to tell, as the earliest town 
records are almost silent on the subject, and only 
the vaguest traditions exist concerning a matter that 
runs behind the memory of the oldest among the 
living. That its general limits were nearly the 
same a hundred years ago, as now, is more than 
probable, as several houses, marking its outline on 
South Common street on the one side and North 
Common street on the other, are in existence, whose 
foundations were laid more than a century ago. 
There is pretty clear evidence that what is now 
Ash street was once its boundary on one side at 
that point, and that the land now covered by the 
"Arcade" building, and others, extending as far as 
Elm street, was included within the limits of the 
Common hardly as far back as the days of the Rev- 
olution. Some have supposed that the " Old Bury- 



LYNN COMMON. 



291 



ing Ground " was originally included in the Com- 
mon ; but as this spot was used as a burial ground 
b}' the earliest settlers, before boundaries had any 
such significance, and when an indefinite amount 
of land was designated " common lands," it was 
probably no more a part of the Common than many 
other unimproved acres lying adjacent. At the 
east end, between the old Methodist Church and 
the Johnson estate opposite — where now stands 
the City Hall — the space was much narrower as 
late as 1812, when the church was built. The first 
church built by this society, in 1791, stood until 
this time directl}^ in front, about seven feet distant, 
facing the new structure until that was finished. 
This brought the old building to a line about eight 
feet beyond the curbstone of the present sidewalk. 
Tlie corner of Market and South Common streets 
then projected several feet into what is now the 
street at that point, so that travel passed round this 
somewhat abrupt turn by the rear of the old church. 
There w^as not much change in the vicinit}^ of the 
Common for the next fifteen years, except the few 
houses built on either side. Down to this time there 
was quite a large number of trees upon and around 
the Common ; and as late as 1848, when it was 
fenced, there were, as stated b}-- Mr. Newhall in 
his History, three hundred and lbrt3^-seven trees 
upon it, including those within the railing and along 
the sidewalk. 



292 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



The first important step toward adorning the 
Common with shade trees was taken by Aaron 
Breed, near the close of the last centur}^ Mr. 
Breed was the uncle of Theophilus N. Breed, well 
known in our community, and especially well 
known to all shoemakers of the last generation as 
the veteran dealer in all kinds of shoe kit ; and his 
old findings store was on the premises near which, 
and in whose neighborhood, his uncle set those 
trees, whose beauty attracted the attention of the 
passers-by for more than half a century, and whose 
fragrance filled the air with its grateful odors. 
The trees set out by Mr. Breed were elms, the 
Lombardy poplar — often called the English pop- 
lar — and balm of Gilead. The elms were set in 
front of his residence — now the estate of Dr. 
Blethen, next to the east corner of Pleasant and 
South Common streets — and along the line of the 
sidewalk for some distance. The balm of Gilead 
and poplars were set on the southerl}- side of the 
Common, extending a considerable distance east 
and west from this point. One of our oldest resi- 
dents informs the writer that the elms were set out 
first. Several of those noble trees remained until a 
few years since, some having died, as was supposed, 
from the effects of gas soon after it was introduced 
into the city. 

In 1820 the next step toward ornamenting the 
Common with shade trees was made. A public 



LYNN COMMON. 293 

benefactor at this time appeared in the person of 
William Wood, known to many of the old citizens 
of Lynn as "Billy Wood." The writer has not 
been able to gather many facts relating to the his- 
tory of this gentleman before he came among us, 
or subsequent to his departure. It is said that he 
came from Boston, and was supposed to be a retired 
merchant. He was in the habit of visiting Lynn 
and Nahant periodically, and when at the latter 
place boarded with William Breed, who kept the 
onl}^ boarding-house on Nahant at that time. His 
house stood on the spot now covered by Whitne3^'s 
Hotel, built in 1819. Mr. Breed was the grand- 
father of the late William N. Breed. It was Mr. 
Wood who gave the first impulse of setting out 
trees on Nahant, ante-dating Mr. Tudor in this 
particular by several years. Mr. Wood was accus- 
tomed to visit the various shops while stopping in 
Lynn, and of directing the attention of our citizens 
to the importance of improving her sidewalks and 
adorning the Common with trees. He made a 
proposition to furnish the trees if the citizens would 
lend their assistance in setting them out. One of 
our oldest residents — James Bacheller, now resid- 
ing on Summer street — informed the writer that 
he, with his two brothers, gave a week's time in 
carrying out this worthy enterprise. Under this 
arrangeme/it a large number of trees were set out 
around the Common, the sidewalks in the nei£i-li- 



294 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

borhood graded, and the general appearance of this 
locaHty much improved. Not the least part of the 
work done by this public-spirited and lar-sighted 
man was the stimulus given to individual enterprise 
in this direction. Owners of estates on eitiier side 
of the Common — as well' as elsewhere — had tlieir 
interest awakened at this time to the improvement 
and adornment of our public streets ; and, accord- 
in"; to the law which binds the interests of mankind 
together, the general welfare was subserved by 
each man's desire to adorn his immediate premises. 
Mr. Wood was, at this time, about fifty years of 
age ; was regarded as somewhat eccentric, and a 
bachelor. Whether his eccentricity had an3'thing 
to do with his beino- a bachelor is a matter of no 
historic importance ; but it is certain that his eccen- 
tricity in this particular had more common sense in 
its operation than the concentricity of a large part 
of mankind. 

Associated with Mr. Wood in this enterprise, and 
foremost in aiding the work with both time and 
money, was our venerable, public-spirited citizen, 
Henry A. Breed. Mr. Breed is still living among 
us, an active, hale old man, now in his eighty-first 
year. The record of his long, busy life — a life 
identified with every step in the march of improve- 
ment that has carried us forward from a compara- 
tively insignificant town of four thousand inhabi- 
tants to a citv of more than nine times that num- 



LYNN COMMON. 295 

ber, would be a great part of the history of the 
business changes of the last srxt}' years. 

In 1829 or 1830 — for the town records are 
strangely silent upon this matter — the third and 
greatest improvement was undertaken. At this 
time the Common was plowed up, its surface 
leveled, and its sides ornamented with many ad- 
ditional trees. 

In 1830 an association was formed which aimed 
at a scheme of more general improvement. This 
organization, as will be seen, included nearly all 
the prominent men in the town at the time. The 
following was its list of members : Dr. James Gard- 
ner, Andrews Breed, George Johnson, Samuel T. 
Huse, Benjamin Massey, Joseph Breed, 3d, Henry 
. A. Breed, John Caldwell, William Caldwell, Calley 
Newhall, Jr., Joseph Lye, Christopher Robinson, 
Paul Newhall, Thomas Bowler, Joseph M. Nye, 
Daniel L. Mudge, Stephen Oliver, Col. Samuel 
Brimblecom, Samuel Bacheller, 3d, James Hud- 
son, Theophilus Newhall, Jr., Capt. Amos Attwill, 
John B. Chase, Joseph A. Lloyd, James P. Boyce, 
John Lovejoy, Isaac Gates, Esq., John Alley, 3d, 
Benjamin Clifford, Dr. Richard Hazeltine, Jona- 
than Buffum, Edmund Munroe, Nathan Breed, 
Nathan D. Chase, Mosqs Breed, Abel Houghton, 
Jr., Gideon Phillips, Samuel Tufts, Richard Rich- 
ards, Samuel Neal, Ebenezer Brown, Samuel Ire- 
son, Ezra Curtin, Jacob Ingalls, Thomas II. Att- 



296 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

will, Moses Goodridge, Jr., Samuel Larrabee, 
Matthew Mansfield, William Clark, William Bas- 
sett, Micajah C. Pratt and Dr. William B. Brown. 

From the impulse given b}' this association sev- 
eral of our principal streets at that time were more 
or less lined with young trees. Many of the fine 
trees that adorned Summer street, and other streets 
in the neighborhood of the Common, were set dur- 
ing the prevalence of the " tree fever " that raged 
at that period ; and all parts of the town felt, to a 
greater or less extent, its influence. Many of these 
trees, as well as those of an older growth, were 
blown down, or so shattered as to destroy their 
symmetry and beauty, in the great tornado that 
swept over the city on the 8th of September, 1869. 
The record by the Surveyor of Streets shows that 
five men and two horses were engaged four weeks 
in removing the wrecks of noble trees that obstructed 
the streets and sidewalks in every part of the city. 

Let us now take a look at the Common as it ap- 
peared to the eye of the beholder sixty years ago. 
It wore a very different aspect from that which now 
presents itself — a level green, crossed with graveled 
walks, adorned with fine trees, and surrounded with 
a substantial and ornamental fence. It was then 
an uneven stretch of grass land, several feet lower 
at certain points than it is at present, while its high- 
est section was somewhat above the most elevated 
part of the grade as it now appears. It was an 



LYNN COMMON. 297 

Open space, free to all the cows and other animals 
of the neighborhood, and through its center, or a 
little to the north of it, run the only "^ made " street 
— except the turnpike — within the limits of the 
town. What is now North Common street was 
then an ill-defined country road. It vv-as not a 
" made " street till 1830. Along where South Com- 
mon street is now there was considerable travelling 
in the dry season, as far as the brook which crossed 
the Common from the north side near the west cor- 
ner of what is now Baker street. Travel passed 
over this brook on the south side of the Common on 
a rickety wooden bridge : and as the land on either 
side of this bridge was low, heavy rains or melting 
snows made it a hard road, if not an impossible way, 
to travel. Then teams would turn out on to the 
higher and dryer parts of the Comnion, and as a 
consequence it was more or less used as a highway 
as comfort, or convenience, dictated. At the west 
end of the Common, as now enclosed, was a "knoll," 
or elevation of land, gradually sloping away to a 
depression known as " Academy Hollow," so called 
because it was opposite the old Academy, which 
stood near the spot now occupied by the residence 
of R. A. Spalding, a little west of the head of Vine 
street. In winter this was a fine skating pond for 
the boys. From this point eastward the land rose 
to the highest elevation reached between the east 
and west end of the Common, the land at this point 
3« 



298 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

being nearly on the same level then as now. On 
this rise of land stood the " Old Tunnel Meeting 
House." Eastward of this section the land was some- 
what lower, its lowest point being crossed by the 
brook above-mentioned. Here the road, which 
ran at the north side of the buildings then occupy- 
ing the Common, crossed the brook over a wooden 
bridge. This brook afterward ran into, or rather 
through the Frog Pond, when that w^as constructed 
in 1838 or 1839. "^^^^ basin of this pond was made 
under the superintendence of Otis Newhall. It was 
about three feet deep — its sloping sides measuring 
some four feet — and enclosed with a fence. In 
1848, when the Common was fenced, its sides were 
walled up, and curbstones set around its edges ; 
and twenty-three years later, in 187 1, the brook 
was turned into the sewer, the bottom of the pond 
cemented, and the basin supplied with water from 
Breed's pond. 

The depression on either side of this brook was 
called " Meeting House Hollow," when it was not 
called " Goose Hollow\" This also was a skating 
pond for the boys in winter. From this brook east- 
ward the Common was somewhat higher ; and at 
a point opposite Church street (then not opened) 
there was quite an elevation, or " knoll," as it is 
termed in the town records, when this part of the 
Common was designated as the site of the old 
school house, which was removed from Franklin 



I.YNN COMMON. 



299 



Street in 1752. From this point eastward the hind 
was nearly level. 

Looking westward trom the east end of the Com- 
mon, the first building that would attract attention 
was the Ward Five Grammar School House, which 
stood between the site of the Soldiers' Monument 
and Franklin street, occupying a portion of what is 
now the road-bed of North Common street at that 
point. This school house was built in 1810 for 
Ward Six — Ward Six then including, for the most 
part, what is now^ Ward Five and a portion of Ward 
Four — and was removed to Franklin street, oppo- 
site the present site of the Cobbet School House, in 
the Fall of 1823. 

The first building within the limits of the Com- 
mon, as one looked from the east, was the Old 
Tow^n House, its wide doors, like the gates of Janus, 
facing both ways — east and west. The south- 
western corner of the lower floor w^as used b}^ the 
Light Infantry as an armory, and a room on the 
southerly side was occupied by the Selectmen 
whenever occasion required. The remainder of 
the low^er story was an open space, through which 
the military marched on " training days " to the 
Gun House in the rear, to stack their arms, when 
the service of the day was over. It stood about 
mid-way between North Common street and South 
Common street. It was built in 1814, and was re- 
moved from the Common, in 1832, to the lot on 



300 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



South Common street, nearly opposite, on the spot 
where Blossom street enters it — Blossom court, 
when opened, ending at the rear of the Town Hall 
vai'd. It was destroyed by fire on the night of 
October 6th, 1864. 

Next came the Gun House, standing several rods 
at the west, and in range of the Town Hall. It 
was built in 1809 to receive the " great guns " sent 
by the United States government at that time when 
the disturbed state of our relations with Great Brit- 
ain threatened the war which came in 1812. It 
was removed from the Common the same year — 
probably — in which the Town House was removed, 
and occupied a lot in the southwest corner of the 
Town House yard. 

Next came what was known as the Attvvill House. 
According to common report, it was built in 1682, 
by the first parish as a residence for the sexton of 
the church. It came into the possession of the Att- 
will family some seventy-five years later. There 
seems to be pretty good evidence that it was built 
at the above date. The present occupant of the 
house — Miss Ruth A. Attwill — remembers that 
she saw a tablet brought to light, when a partition 
was taken down, on which was inscribed : "Built 
June, 1682." It stood about mid-way between 
North and South Common streets, nearly opposite 
the head of Baker street, and was built from timber 
cut from the Common — oak and pine — and its 



LYNN COMMON. 3OI 

walls filled in with brick, as was common in those 
days. It is a two-story, low-posted structure., its 
narrow windows of irregular sizes, and its massive 
beams furnishing a contrast with the capacious, 
light -tramed and more symmetrically - planned 
dwellings of the present day. As it stood on the 
Common, it was surrounded by a picket fence, 
which inclosed a half-acre of land, on which was 
an orchard of fifteen apple trees, two peach trees, 
and two cherry trees, besides a plat cultivated as a 
garden. The house formed part of the western 
end of the enclosure, and was a few rods east of 
the brook above-mentioned. It was moved from 
the Common, in 1835, to the lot where it now 
stands, on Whiting street, on the right, entering 
Whiting street from the Common. It is now (1879) 
one of the oldest houses in the city, and is still 
occupied by Miss Ruth A. Attwill, the grand- 
daughter of Zachary Attwill, who purchased it of 
his great aunts about the year 1780. In its extern- 
al appearance it has not imdergone much change ; 
and its internal arrangements remained the same 
for about a century, since which time it has been 
subject to various modifications. 

The next building w^as fhe old engine house, 
built in 1797 for the first engine used in town — the 
" Relief." It stood a little west of the brook on the 
north side of the Common. It was moved, in 1832, 



302 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

across North Common street to a lot near the corner 
of Harwood street. 

The next building was the Old Tunnel Meeting 
House, built in 1682. It stood in the center ot^ the 
Common, nearly opposite — a little to the west — 
the head of Whiting street. It was removed in 
1827 to its present site, corner of Commercial and 
South Common streets, at which time it was re- 
modeled, and to a considerable extent rebuih. 

The next building was the school house belong- 
ing to the sixth district. It stood opposite the 
eastern end of what is now the " Arcade " building, 
or just outside the w^est end of the Common as 
now enclosed. It was built, probably, about the 
year 1790. 

The fence, already alluded to, was placed around 
the Common (1848) at a cost of $2,500. The 
towm was mainly indebted for this needed protec- 
tion and ornament, to the efforts of a company of 
public spirited ladies. In the last three days of 
September, of the above-named year, they held 
a fair in Exchange Hall — then just built — by 
which they obtained the sum of about $1,400. 
Other sums were obtained by subscription suthcient 
to complete the work. 

A small plat at the easterly end was enclosed at 
the same time as a Park. Directly in front of the 
east end of the Park the Soldiers' Monument was 
placed, and dedicated September 17th. 1873. 



I.YNN COMMON. 303 

During the past few years the grade of the Com- 
mon has been gradually raised, and its general ap- 
pearance improved. Under the charge of an effi- 
cient forester new trees are planted, and old and 
unsightly ones removed. There are at present on 
the Common two hundred and thirteen trees, about 
four-fifths of which are elms, the rest lindens, rock 
maples and horse chestnuts. In the Park there are 
fifty trees, mostly elms. 

As late as 1825 there were nineteen houses — 
including two meeting houses and one bank — - on 
South Common street, and twenty-six on North 
Common street, including the Lynn Hotel. Be- 
sides these there were four on the Common at that 
date. Of these forty-nine buildings, there are ten 
now standing on the south side, and nineteen on the 
north side. The Common contains seven and one- 
fourth acres. 



THE STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS 
AGO. 



The limits of the present volume will not permit 
the writer to give more than an outline of the his- 
tory of the streets of Lynn ; but it is hoped that 
this outline, imperfect as it is, will have something 
more than a passing interest. An incidental allu- 
sion, or the tixing of a date, is often sufficient to 
give a hint that sheds light upon an event that 
otherwise might remain in obscurity, and some- 
times makes certain a matter having an historical 
importance. 

Some time has been spent in fixing, with accuracy, 
the dates here given, and where absolute exactness 
has not been attainable, it is believed that such an 
approximation has been made as will serve the 
essential purpose of a record like this, or furnish a 
clew that will lead the more diligent inquirer to that 
certainty which he seeks. 

The elderly readers of these pages will readily 
recall the business aspect of Lynn as it appeared 
forty or fifty years ajjfo. It may not be uninterest- 



STREETS OF I.YNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 305 

ing to N-ounger readers to get a glimpse of the busi- 
ness geography of the town at that time. 

The business streets of Lynn at that period — be- 
tween 1830 and 1840 — were Broad, Front, (the 
western end of Broad street, as far as its intersec- 
tion with Exchange street, then called Pine street, 
was known as Front street,) Market and South 
Common streets. Considerable business centered 
about the old Lynn Hotel, at Federal square, and 
also around the Village House, at Woodend. Out- 
side of these limits a few individuals did a small 
business in different sections of the town. To get 
an idea by way of contrast, let us take a view of 
what is now the business center of the cit}', includ- 
ing the business portion of Ward Five, and bounded 
by Market, Broad — to Silsbee — Silsbee, Pearl, 
High and Oxford streets. In 1830 the only streets 
inside these limits were Union street, (the south- 
west part,) Spruce street, (now Washington,) run- 
ning from Union street to its junction with Libert v 
street, which, at that time, ran from that point to 
Market street — the northern part extending to 
High street was opened a few years after — Pine 
and Spring streets. These five streets — Liberty, 
Spruce, Union, Pine and Spring — besides the 
boundary streets already named — except Silsbee, 
(opened in 1834,) ^"^1 Oxford streets — were all 
there were in that entire area. Willow street was 
opened about 1842, Almont street in 1846, Mulbeny 
39 



3o6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Street in 1850, Buftum street in 1851, Oxford street 
in 1846, Central avenue in .1872. Extending the 
line on Broad street so as to make Chestnut street 
the northeasterly boundary, from Broad street on 
the one hand to Essex street on the other, and 
thence to Market street, and we have a territory 
through which, at that time, no street passed, ex- 
cept the northeasterl}^ end of Union street, Pearl 
street, and High street. Not a single street cut the 
entire section between the Central Station and 
Chestnut street, and included within the bounds of 
Exchange, Broad, Chestnut and Union streets. 
That entire tract embraced only fields, orchards 
and gardens, except what was then called Mount 
Vernon court, including the southern end of the 
present Mount Vernon street. Friend, Ellis, 
School, Smith, Green, Violet, Howard, Estes, 
Pinkham, Mailey, Ezra and East Charles streets, 
and all the courts and alleys included in these 
streets, were then unknown. Three fields — known 
as the Ellis, Smith and Estes fields — running 
nearly the whole length of Union street, on the 
east side, and extending to the rear of the lots on 
Broad and Chestnut streets, embraced seven-eighths 
of this section of the town. 

Union street, for the most part, was then a low, 
swampy, and not much traveled thoroughfare, and 
went by the unpretending name of "Estes Lane." 
It was avoided especially on dark nights, and by 



STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 307 

timid people, as a lonesome street: and its course 
b}'- the Eastern Burial Ground was not the least 
amongf the reasons that caused it to be shunned. In 
the evening boys went b}- this part of it on the run. 
Only tw^o places of business were then upon it, 
the grocery store of Joseph Breed, father of Henr\' 
and Joseph Breed, 2d — kept in what is now the 
dwelling house on the corner of Union and Wash- 
ington streets — and the paint shop of Jonathan Buf- 
fum. That section in the immediate vicinity of the 
Central Station has undergone greater changes 
than an\- other. 



EXCHANGE STREET. 

There were but nine buildings on Exchange 
street (then called Pine street) in 1830 — five on 
the northeast side and four on the southwest. Be- 
ginning at the corner where now stands the East- 
ern Railroad Station then stood the house of John 
Mower, father of Amos E. Mower, now residing 
on Union street. Following the northeast side of 
the street stood the house of Nathan Alley. Next, 
on the northwest corner of Mount Vernon street 
(then only a court) was the house of Joseph Alley, 
brother to the one just mentioned. On the opposite 
corner, where now^ stands the shoe factory of John 
Wooldredge. no building then stood ; the house 
built on this lot a few years after bv Ira Gove was 



3o8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

bought by George Foster and removed to the cor- 
ner of Union and School streets, where it now 
stands. Next stood the house of Daniel Breed, 
wood merchant, and father of the late William N. 
Breed, who followed the same business. The next 
and last building on that side was the shoe factory 
of Isaiah Breed, standing near the present location 
of the Bank. It will be seen that not one of these 
old buildings is now standing. Directly opposite 
the factory of Mr. Breed stood the house of James 
Pratt — where it now stands, at the junction of 
Broad and Exchange streets. This is the only 
building now standing that was on the street fifty 
years ago. Next, on the southwest side of the 
street, was the residence of Moses Conner. Next, 
a barn belonging to Abner Alley, whose house 
stood where it now stands, fronting on Broad street, 
next to the Pratt estate. Mr. Alley was the owner 
of the entire triangle of land bounded b}- Exchange, 
Broad and Spring streets, except the estates of 
James Pratt, of Moses Conner, and that of Daniel 
Farrington, on the corner of Broad and Spring 
streets. Next stood the old grammar school house 
of Ward Four, near the spot now occupied by the 
shoe factory of Isaac M. Attwill. This school 
house was not much like the present grammar 
school house on Franklin street. It was moved 
soon after to the school yard at the upper end of 
Mount Vernon court — then reached by ascending 



STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 3O9 

quite a hill — a spot very near that covered by the 
factory now standing in the rear of the shoe factory 
occupied by J. P. Eaton, and owned by Albert T. 
Goodwin, and directly in the rear — from Silsbee 
street — of the Central Church. At the side of this 
hill there was a deep depression, or gulley, called 
" Uncle Joe's Hollow^ Hole," now- making part of 
the railroad bed between the Central Station and 
the Silsbee street bridge. On the corner of Spring 
and Exchange streets, on the spot where now stands 
the shoe factory of Lucian Newhall, was the house 
of Daniel Carter ; and between this corner and the 
corner of Exchange and Union streets was a va- 
cant lot of land whose line on Union street extended 
to the estate of Jonathan Conner — the spot now 
covered by the large factories of the Brown Broth- 
ers and Jerome Ingalls. This lot was low and 
clayey, the last spot one would have thought to be 
afterward covered with imposing blocks of build- 
ings, and the very center of our growing business. 

MARKET STREET IN 183O. 

The Market street of 1830 was a very different 
place from the Market street of 1879. T'he east- 
ern end from Munroe street w^as some five or six 
feet lower than at present. Its greatest depression 
was near the head of Harrison avenue — opened 
some ten years later — and at this point was a 



3IO SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

stone bridge. (This stone bridge was probably 
built somewhere near the close of the hist century, 
and rephiced a wooden structure which was in use 
as late as 1780.) The road-bed at this bridge was 
some five feet below the present grade, while the 
road at the corner of Market and Broad streets was 
several feet above it, making a hill, which a vet- 
eran teamster of the time declared to be the most 
ditbcult of any between that point and Boston — 
and the hills over that route were a good deal 
steeper then than now. High tides swept through 
under this bridge at the foot of this hill, flowing the 
low lands on the northern side ; and exceptionallv 
high tides flooded the street, and all the territory 
lying between Harrison avenue and Munroe street 
— the space now occupied by the Eastern Railroad 
bed and Munroe street, between Market and Wash- 
ington (then Spruce) streets, being then an un- 
broken field, known as the Munroe field. This 
was generally covered with water in the wet sea- 
son, and furnished good skating-grounds for the 
boys ( the girls did n't skate then ) when the 
w'eather was cold enough and the ice smooth 
enough. The building of the Eastern Railroad 
in 1837 changed all that. This necessitated the 
filling up of Market street on either side to a level 
with the railroad bed — an operation that gave to 
the few buildings then on that part of the street a 
very much underground appearance. The onlv 



STREETS OF EYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 3II 

building now remaining to bear evidence of this is 
the old morocco factor}' of the late John Lovejoy, 
standing next to the railroad on its east side, and 
on the north side of Market street. There were 
then standing forty-nine buildings on Market street, 
including eight shoemakers' shops — twenty-seven 
on the northeast side and twenty -two on the south- 
west side. Of the twenty-two buildings then stand- 
ing on the southwest side but two remain — one, 
the morocco manufactory and salesroom of Eugene 
Barry, the other, the corner building standing next 
to the old Methodist Church. The first of these was 
the old bark mill, owned by Winthrop Newhall, 
father of the late F. S. and H. Newhall. The old 
tan yard was on the land immediately adjacent. 
Business was discontinued in this yard some two or 
three years later, and w^as the last of six that were 
in operation in 1820. At this time about twelve 
thousand dollars' worth of leather was annually 
tanned in this yard. 

Besides the two abo\-e-mendoned, on the south- 
west side there is a half of a house, known at that 
time as the Jerusha Williams' house. It w\as after- 
ward owned b\' Samuel Bacheller, father of 
Thomas W. Bacheller. The other half was 
sawed oft' a few years ago to make room for a new- 
block. The remainder now stands on the spot 
where it was built, between the store occupied by 
William Filene and the new block on the east. It 



312 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

is now overshadowed by these, and its lower story 
hidden by an addition, or "wart," running to the 
sidewalk, on the ground that was formerly the front 
yard. This addition, together with the lower story 
of the house, is now occupied as a fruit store. 

Of the twenty-seven buildings on the northeast 
side, but four remain. Beginning at the east end of 
the street, the first of these is the Sheridan House, 
then the residence of Stephen Smith. At that time 
it rather fronted on Broad street — then Front street. 
When the street was widened at that point, the 
house was moved back, raised up, a lower story 
added for stores, and the upper part fitted for a 
public house. The second is the old building 
standing next to the railroad on its east side. The 
third is the old store on the corner of Liberty street, 
then, or soon after, occupied as a shoe factory by 
one of the Harney brothers, and still later as a 
clothing store. The fourth is the store on the cor- 
ner of Market and Essex streets, then kept by Otis 
Wright as a grocery store, and now occupied — the 
lower part — by Warren Tapley, as an apothecary 
shop. A few rods from this corner, on the opposite 
side of the street, stood the house and shoemaker's 
shop of Gamaliel Oliver, father of William B. 
Oliver. In this shoemaker's shop William Lloyd 
Garrison worked at shoemaking in his early days. 
In 1830 the old Richard Pratt house, standing on a 
spot now covered by the Bubier Block, a few rods 



STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 313 

east of the Post Office, was replaced bv the house 
built by the late John Lovejoy. 

In 183 1 the six follovving-named persons and 
firms — reckoning each tirm as one — did business 
on Market street: Joseph Alley, Samuel Bach- 
eller, Baker & Saunderson, Jonathan Bovce & 
Son, Martin D. Harney and Jacob I. Johnson. In 
1S40 fourteen persons and lirms did business on this 
street : John B. Alley, Samuel Bacheller, Thomas 
W. Bacheller, George L. Barnard, Daniel C. 
Baker, Samuel M. Bubier, Theophilus Hallowell, 
George B. Harney, Martin D. Harney, Abner S. 
Moore, W. B. & J. P. Oliver, Richardson & Graves, 
Joseph N. Saunderson and John A. Thurston. 

In 1830 there was no street, except Nahant street, 
between Broad street and the sea ; and continuing 
the line through Lewis street, not a single street or 
court divided the territory lying between these old 
thoroughfares and the ocean. 

The first streets opened were Portland and Balti- 
more, in 1832; Newhall, and Sagamore — from 
Nahant to Newhall — in 1835; Bassett and Gar- 
land, in 1836; Beach, in 1838; Red Rock, in 
1847 ; Breed, in 1844; Ocean street — to Lewis — 
in 1845 ; Sachem, in 1843 ; King, in 1847 ; Ocean 
— from Atlantic to Nahant — in 1848 ; West Saga- 
more, in 1845; Wave, in 1848: Amity, in 1851 ; 
Nichols and Foster, in 1852; Cherry, in 1853; 
40 



314 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

New Ocean and Suffolk, in 1855, and Farrar, in 
1861. 

Within the boundaries ah-eady mentioned — 
Broad, Chestnut and Union streets — Green street 
was the tirst opened — 1833; Silsbee, 1834 ; School, 
Ellis, Howard, East Charles, Ezra, Pinkham, Estes, 
Maile}' and Violet, in 1848; Friend, in 1867, and 
Friend street place, in 1877. 

What is now known as the Highlands was then 
called Rocks' pasture. That entire stretch of land 
inclosed within the boundaries beginning at the 
City Hall, and running along Essex street, to 
Chestnut, thence to Western avenue, (then known 
as the turnpike,) thence to Franklin street, thence 
to City Hall again, was made up of fields, pas- 
tures, ledges and berry swamps. Not a single 
cross street cut this entire territory for some years 
later than 1830. The first inroad made upon this 
large tract of land was Essex court, running from 
Essex street — near the head of Pearl — and 
Hutchinson's court, which, extending to the foot of 
High Rock, made that famous eminence more easily 
accessible. These were opened in 1835. 

Rockaway court, (now Rockaway street,) Adams 
court and Jefferson court were opened in 1846, and 
other courts further east still later. The streets 
leading to Mount Pleasant were not opened till 
1865. Sheridan street was also opened in 1865. 

As late as 1850 there were not more than twenty 



STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 



o^:) 



houses — not including those standing on the 
boundary Hues — within the entire territory bound- 
ed b}- Essex street on the east, Chestnut street on 
the north, Western avenue on the west, and Wash- 
ington street on the south ; and nearly all of these 
were in Essex court, above named. 

Within the territory bounded by Market, South 
Common, Commercial and Sea streets, there were 
but tour streets as late as 1830 — Summer, Pleasant, 
Shepard and Vine streets. Between 1830 and 1840 
there were but three streets opened in all this terri- 
tor}' — Church and Tremont streets, opened in 1833, 
and a part of Neptune, from Vine to Commercial, 
opened in 1833 ' George, in 1846 ; Warren, in 
1842 ; Prospect, in 1849 : Harbor and Alley, in 
1852; Blossom, in 1864 — it existed as a court 
some years prior to this date, extending on both 
sides of Summer street. Washington court, in 1843. 

All the streets between Summer street and the 
sea, bounded by Commercial street on the east, 
and Western avenue on the west, were opened 
later than 1850. .except Light, Minot, and a part of 
Neptune streets. These were opened in 1835. 
Lowell street was opened in 1841. Stickney, Ann 
and Charles streets were opened in 1850. 

The territory bounded by Western avenue, 
Federal street. Water Hill street and the south- 
western line of Ward Six, was not broken by a 
single street. River street was opened in 1833 ; 



3l6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

May court, in 1833. This court was opened 
through when Berkley street was laid out about 
1854. Linden court was opened about 1835, '^^^ 
extended through to Cottage street about 1855. 
Cottage street was opened in 1845 : Hood, in 1850 ; 
Nelson, in 1852; Allen, in 1868; Morris court, 
Camden street, and others in this vicinity, at a still 
later date. 

Between Boston street — from Chestnut on the 
north, to North Federal on the south — and the high 
land on the west, there was no street, except the 
west end of Franklin, prior to 1844, wlien Grove 
street was opened. 

The territory known as Pine Hill, bounded by 
Forest street, on the east, and Walnut street, on the 
south, contained no dwelling until 1850, when 
Nathaniel Holder built the first house on that ehii- 
nence. 

The entire tract of land lying north of Fa3'ette 
street, from Gold Fish Pond to Collins street, thence 
following' the line of Chestnut street to Western 
avenue, and thence to the northern boundary of the 
town, was one unbroken field and meadow, through 
which no street ran, except the section of Chatham 
street, betwee'n Essex and Collins streets — opened 
about 1825. Jackson street was opened in 1835, 
and Ingalls street in the same year. 

Chatham street, east from Essex, was opened in 
1853 ; Chatham, west from Collins, in 1858 ; Par- 



STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 317 

rott, in i860: Alice, in 1866; Dana, in 1871 : Em- 
pire, in 1869; New Chatham, in 1871, and Brook- 
line, Timson and Groveland streets, and others in 
that vicinity, still later. 

A large part ot' the streets h'ing within the 
boundaries of North Common street on the south, 
Western avenue on the west, Essex street on the 
east, and the high lands on the north, were opened 
later than 1850. Washington street, from Essex to 
Laighton, in 1849 — thence to Boston street, in 
1850. Hanover, Baker and Chase streets, in 1850 ; 
Johnson and Holton streets, in 1855 ; Harwood, in 
1853; Brimblecom, in 1854, and i\rlington — first 
opened as a court about 1849, and called Linden 
place — was extended to Baker street in 1870; 
Lloyd, ni 1868 : Lloyd court, in 1871 ; others in 
this immediate vicinity were opened, or extended, 
between this last date and 1873. 

In Glenmere — formerly Gravesend — there \\as 
no street running from any of the old streets with- 
in the limits of the Ward — Chestnut, Turnpike, 
Maple and Boston streets — until later than i860, 
except Lake street, which was opened in 1836. 
Bowler street was opened just before i860. Nearl}- 
all the other new streets in this territory were 
opened a few years prior to 1873. 

The opening of new streets, as well as other 
marks of growth and improvement, is usually seen 
in seasons of business prosperity. We have had 



3l8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

four such seasons since 1830. Between 1830 and 
1837, and more especially the last two or three 
years of this period, was the first, and, perhaps, 
the most active season of real estate operations and 
speculation, if we take into account the difi^erence 
in population and resources between that day and 
recent years. The second was chiefly^ between the 
years 1843 and 1847. The partial revulsion in 
business in 1847 checked real estate movements 
for awhile ; but the stimulus given to all sorts of 
business enterprizes b}- the discovery of the Cali- 
fornian and Australian mines, a few years later, 
brought on a third period of intense commercial 
activity, which culminated in the panic of 1857. 
Lynn felt the stimulus, and did its full share in 
pushing forward improvements of every kind. Dol- 
lars were more plentiful than ever before. But 
they were not worth as much as usual. It took 
more of them to buy a barrel of flour than at any 
time since 1816. Some people do n't see through this. 
The fourth period began about 1864, and ended 
with the revulsion that came in the Fall of 1873. 
There were more miles of streets laid out during 
the four years ending at the last-named date than 
in any equal period of time since L3'nn was settled. 
Things were done on a large scale. Not only short 
cross streets were cut, but streets and avenues of 
great length were opened, or projected, in the 
suburbs — where land was comparativelv cheap — 



STREETS OF LYNN FIFTY YEARS AGO. 319 

enough to meet the wants of the city tor a quarter 
of a centur}^. 

In 183 1 there were sixty streets and courts in 
L}'nn and Swampscott. In 1840 there were one 
hundred and three streets in Lynn and Swamp- 
scott. In 1844 there were two hundred and ten 
in Lynn. In 1853, two hundred and eighteen. 
In 1855, two hundred and twenty-nine. In 1857, 
tw^o hundred and forty-three. In 1859, two hun- 
dred and seventy-two. In 1864, two hundred and 
eighty-nine. In 1866, three hundred and thirteen. 
In 1868, three hundred and twenty-eight. In 1870, 
three hundred and seventy-four. In 1872, four 
hundred and forty. In 1874, four hundred and 
sixtN'-tive. In- 1877., four hundred and seventy. 
In 1879, ^'^"^' hi-indred and eighty-one. 

These figures, if not exact, are such an approxi- 
mation as gives a clear idea of the comparative 
growth of Lynn during these several periods, so far 
as figures like these have a significance. 

In 1879 we had one hundred and twenty-five 
miles of streets within the limits of the city. But 
little more than three-fourths of our streets have been 
accepted. 



THE EARLY MOROCCO BUSINESS IN 

LYNN. 



For the following facts relating to the early mo- 
rocco business of Lynn the writer is chiefly in- 
debted to a paper prepared by the late Joseph Moul- 
ton, twent}' years ago. Mr. Moulton's intimate 
knowledge of the business for more than fifty years 
— being himself a pioneer in this branch of trade — 
and his intelligent appreciation of everything per- 
taining to the histor}' of his native town, give a per- 
manent value to his sketch. 

For many of the facts of a later date the writer is 
indebted to John T. Moulton, son of the foregoing, 
who is now engaged in the same business, and 
known in the community as an intelligent inquirer 
into the history and traditions of his native place. 

The manufacture of morocco was begun in Lynn 
about the year 1800. It may be well to give a few 
words in explanation of the origin of this term. 
The original Morocco leather was from the Barbary 
States — as its name might suggest — and the Le- 
vant. The English had learned the art of manu- 
facturing it. and small quantities found their way to 



EARLY !\rOR0CCO BUSINESS OK LYNN. 32 1 

this country, probably, quite early in tiie last cen- 
tury. Felt, in his "Customs of New Eno-land," 
makes mention of Morocco shoes as charo-ed in the 
account book of a Boston merchant as early as 1740. 
From the advent of Dagyr, in 1750, down to 1800, 
a few Morocco goat skins, some English kid skins, 
and other skins " of all kinds," were im.ported. At 
this early period the dresser of morocco was looked 
upon as one possessing a secret too valuable to 
divulge. The business was regarded as an art 
rather than a trade ; and the work was carried on 
behind darkened windows, so that none might steal 
a knowledge of the mysterious processes that trans- 
formed the unsightly pelt into a thing of beautv, 
fit to adorn the foot of princess or queen. 

William Rose, an Englishman who had served a 
seven-years' apprenticeship in London, was the first 
to set up the business in Lynn. He purchased the 
estate between what is now Blossom and Shepard 
streets, comprising the site where now stands the 
fine mansion of Stephen Oliver, Jr. The factory of 
Mr. Rose — the first one established in Lynn — 
occupied, in part, this land. Mr. Rose did a very 
profitable business here for about eight years ; as 
he had a monopoly of the business, the profits were 
large. But he gained no fortune. He belonged 
to that class — a numerous one — who do n't seem 
to understand that if the out-go is greater than the 
income — no matter how large the income — bank- 
41 



322 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ruptcy comes sooner or later. This is what hap- 
pened to Mr. Rose. His convivial habits and great 
generosity brought the balance on the wrong side 
of the ledger; and about the year 1809 he left 
Lvnn, and made an unsuccessful attempt to estab- 
lish himself in business in Charlestown. While 
Mr. Rose was in Lynn, Capt. Edward Carroll, 
father in-law of the late Philip P. Tapley, worked 
with him as an apprentice. Joshua R. Gore was 
the first to take up the morocco business in Lynn 
after the departure of Mr. Rose ; but not succeed- 
ing in his attempt, he left and settled in New 
Haven. Francis Moore, a preceptor of the Lynn 
Academy, left his profession, and associating him- 
self with Henry Healey, next made an unsuccessful 
attempt as a morocco dresser. 

The next — probably — who took up the busi- 
ness were William B. and Joshua Whitney. They, 
too, were unsuccessful. Carter & Tarbell next 
established a very extensive business, but in the 
end accumulated no fortune. Samuel Mulliken, 
Major Daniel R. Witt and Joseph Mansfield now 
took up the business. As the}' left it soon after, it 
is presumed they found it unprofitable. This brings 
the business down to the close of the second war 
with Great Britain. The business from this time 
rapidly increased. Soon after, Capt. John Love- 
joy, father of the late Elbridge Lovejoy, entered 
the business with a Mr. Stockwell, under the name 



EARLY MOROCCO BUSINESS IN EYNN. 323 

of Lovejoy & Stockwell. The brothers Brack ett — 
Rufus, Newell and George — also engaged in this 
business. Then followed in the same line various 
firms and establishments by men whose names will 
at once be recognized by our old citizens — Breed 
& Damon, Nathan Reed, Peter Hay, Samuel Vial, 
Francis S. and Henry Newhall, Levi Robinson, Wil- 
liam Gibson, Edward Carroll and Joseph Moulton. 

In 1818 Francis S. Newhall entered the morocco 
business; and in 1822 formed .a partnership with 
his brother Henry. From 1S30 to 1834 this firm 
did a large part of the business then carried on in 
the town. Edward Carroll was their foreman at 
this time. They were the first to finish in fancy 
colors, and carried on business until 1849. 

This was a time when profits were small and 
old-fashioned methods prevailed, both in the me- 
chanical part of tiiis handicraft, as well as in the 
general conduct of the trade. Those were the days 
of long credits ; when future contingencies entered 
too largely into mercantile transactions to enable a 
man to strike a balance in his ledger with anv de- 
gree of certaintv. 

From this time (nearly half a centurv ago) for- 
ward, this business increased rapidly in Lynn, and 
spread, to some exte.it. to the neighboring towns. 
The following record will show the date when the 
leading firms, as w'ell as some establishments of less 
note, began operations in Lynn : Joseph Moulton be- 



324 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



gan business in 1835. His operations were confined 
to the tanning branch of the trade. Darius Barr\- 
began business in 1836, on Commercial street, and 
continued there for two years. He then went to 
Boston, aiid remained until 1840. He then re- 
turned to Lynn, and in 1842 set up business near 
the corner of Washington and Munroe streets. Mr. 
Barry taught the mysteries of this art- to several of 
our citizens, who afterward became prominent as 
manufacturers — Charles G. Clark, Nathan Clark, 
Horace Clark, Patrick Lennox, John and James 
Williams, and some thirty others. 

Philip P. Tapley and Andrew Kelty, under the 
firm of Kelty & Tapley, began business in 1S43. 
This continued three 3'ears. About a 3'ear atlter — 
1847 — Mr. Tapley formed a connection with Hon. 
John B. Alley and Abner S. Moore, under the firm 
of x\lley, Tapley & Co., for the purpose of nianu- 
facturing shoes and morocco. They had a store in 
Boston for the sale of leather, and shoe stock gen- 
erally. In 1850 the firm dissolved, and Mr. Tap- 
ley conducted the morocco business in his own 
name. In November, 1850, Mr. Tapley introduced 
steam power into his factory — the first used in 
Lynn in this business. The factory stood on Broad 
street, near- the foot of Union street. In 1858 he 
removed to his spacious new factory, now stand- 
ing near the corner of Broad and Beach streets. 
One of the newspapers of the day stated "that this 



EARLY MOROCCO BUSINESS IN EYNN. 325 

was believed to be the largest and most complete 
of any in the United States, or the world." 

Jacob S. Wentworth began business as a partner 
in the firm of Souther, Blaney & Co., in 1845, in 
Harrison Court. Mr. W. also finished in fancy 
colors. Thomas Roberts, George K. and Henry 
Pevear began business in 1847 on Munroe street. 
Mr. Roberts soon retired, the Messrs. Pevear con- 
tinuing the business. Next to Mr. Tapley they 
were the largest manufacturers in the city some 
twenty years- ago ; and to-day they are probably 
the largest manufacturers in this section of the 
countr}'. In 1844 John W. Blaney and John B. 
Souther established the "skiver" business under the 
firm of Souther & Blaney. This was the beginning 
of the tanning and finishing of skivers in Lynn. 
This firm gained a high repute as finishers 
in fancy colors, a branch — as was stated in the 
paper already quoted — "in which Mr. Blaney has 
become distinguished, and has no superior in the 
country." In 1849 Joseph Souther, Jr., entered 
the firm. In the summer of 1859 they set up a 
steam engine of ten-horse power, and run machines 
known as Green's patent for finishing kid and mo- 
rocco. 

In 1846 Mr. Kelty formed a partnership with Rich- 
ard Drown, under the firm of Kelty & Drow'n. This 
continued until the death of Mr. Kelty, in 1868. 
Horace Clark began business in 185 1, as a partner 



326 SKETCHES OF I.YNN. 

in the firm of Perry •, Smith & Co., located on 
Market street. In 1853 Smith and Clark took the 
business, and carried it on until 1857, when Mr. 
Clark purchased Mr. Smith's interest, and removed 
his business to the old stand of P. P. Tapley, on 
Broad street — foot of Union street. Shortly after 
his removal he formed a partnership with his 
brother Nathan. Charles G. and Nathan Clark 
began business in 185 1, on Market street. The 
next: year they removed to Munroe street, to the 
factor}^ formerly occupied by Darius Barrv. In 
1857 they built their new factory — then one of the 
finest in the city — on the same street, and removed 
their business into it. After Nathan's retirement 
from the firm, his brother conducted the business, 
and has carried it on up to the present time. 

In 1852 William A. Kelly began business on 
Market street. He remained there until 1859, 
when he built a new factory on Munroe street. 
This, also, was spoken of as one of the "best in 
the city." Mr. Kelly has likewise continued busi- 
ness at the old stand up to the present time. 

In 1852 John B. Souther and David Burns formed 
a partnership, and located themselves on Market 
street, in the building formerly occupied by John 
Lovejoy. Thomas Roberts began business under 
the firm of Roberts & York. This firm dissolved 
in 1856, and Mr. Roberts continued the business 
at the old stand on Munroe street. Patrick Lennox 



EARLY MOROCCO BUSINESS IN LYNN. 327 

began business in 1853, on Broad street. He after- 
ward removed to Harrison court. Being a first- 
class mechanic, liis trade rapidly increased, and in 
1858 he removed his business to Market street, 
near his present location. He soon after introduced 
steam and machinery for finishing morocco. In 
1871 he built his fine brick factory on the corner 
of Market street and Harrison court, where he is 
still doing a very extensive business. 

John Williams began business in 1854', o^'' Bi"oad 
street. His brother James succeeded him, and 
continued the business for several years. A. B. 
Martin began business in 1855, in compan}' with 
Moses Norris, on Broad street. He soon after re- 
moved to Market street, and in 1864 he removed 
his factory buildings, and added a new^ extension 
of some sixtv feet. In 1866 he still further enlarg-ed 
it by an addition of eighty feet in length, making it 
one of the most extensive factories at that time in 
Lynn. During the present year (1879) he has 
made another large addition to his factory, and it is 
now, doubtless, the largest building devoted to this 
purpose north of New York city. Mr. Martin's 
business has increased rapidly, and at present he 
is probably one of the largest manufacturers of 
morocco in New England. 

Charles Carroll — son of Edward, above men- 
tioned — began business in 1856, on Broad street, 
in company with his brother Edward, Jr. The 



32» SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

firm was dissolved in 1859 ^Y the death of Edward, 
and Charles continued the business until 1862. In 
1858 William S. Post, John Donallan and Isaac S. 
French began business under the firm of Post, 
Donallan & Co. Their factory was on Boston 
street, and they had a salesroom on South Com- 
mon street. Robert M. Coffee began business in 
1858, on Spring street. He afterward removed to 
Market street. The firm of Oliver & Smith was 
established in 1858, on Market street. Mr. Smith 
began the tanner}- business in 1839, with Mr. Perr}-. 
already mentioned. 

Benjamin F. Clements began business in 1858, 
and continued until 1864, when he entered the firm 
of P. P. Tapley & Co. Andrew Caraher began 
business in 1859, ^^ ^o. 9 Broad street. C. F. 
Winchester began business in 1849, at Dye-House 
Village, now Wyoma. His branch was the "pull- 
ing " and tanning of sheep skins. William Lum- 
mus succeeded Mr. Winchester in this branch of 
the business. 

The amount of business done by the six largest 
firms in the morocco business in i860 was as fol- 
lows : P. P. Tapley, $100,000; Pevear & Co., 
$96,000; J. Souther, Jr., & Co., $75,000; C. G. 
& N. Clark, $50,000 ; Souther & Burns, $46,000 ; 
Oliver & Smith, $40,000. The whole amount of 
business for 1859 was $69^,000. 



EARI.V MOROCCO BUSINESS IN LYNN. 329 

THE MOROCCO BUSINESS SINCE 1860. 

Since 1859 the morocco trade, like the shoe busi- 
ness upon which it depends, has experienced a 
revolution. The civil war brou^rht about condi- 
tions that stimulated every branch of industry to an 
extent never before known, and few received a 
greater impetus than the shoe business, and all the 
industries dependent upon it. The increased pur- 
chasing power of the buyer made such a demand 
for all these products that new methods were re- 
quired to meet the growing wants of the people. 
The morocco manufacturers found it necessary to 
call to their aid machinery and new methods, and 
these necessitated more extensive factories, more 
hands, and larger capital. 

The aggregate amount of business done, is, there- 
fore, very much greater than it was in i860, and 
is constantly increasing : the firms who were in the 
business having multiplied their facilities for manu- 
facture with the increasing demands of the trade. 

• It is a singular fact that, with a few exceptions, 
the business is still carried on by those who were 
engaged in it more than twenty years ago, or by 
their successors educated in their employ. 

The introduction of machinery to supersede man\" 

of the old hand processes, has lessened the cost of 

production, so that, with the raw material still very 

much higher in price than twenty 3-ears ago, the 

42 



330 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

manufactured article is as low, or lower, than at 
that time. All the varieties of kid and morocco 
skins were then sold by the dozen ; now they are 
surveyed, and the measurement of each skin in 
square feet marked upon its flesh side. Once, that 
shoe manufiicturer was the best bu3er who could 
judge best of the measure of a lot of skins by ex- 
amination, now no exercise of judgment in that 
direction is at all requisite. 

The workmen have always received a fair remu- 
neration for their labor ; and, since the introduction 
of machinery into the shoe business, very much 
steadier emplo3'ment than those engaged in that 
trade; for the reason that, in the manufacture of 
morocco, the use of machinery can hasten, only to 
a certain extent, those natural methods and chemi- 
cal combinations employed for the production of 
tanned leather. Time is needed for the depilatory 
process, that is, for removing the hair from the 
skin without injury to its texture, and further time 
is needed tor the tanning process after the hair is 
properly removed. Therefore, onl}' a limited 
amount of business can be done in a certain length 
of time. This makes it necessary that the business 
should be prosecuted during the entire year, that 
the manufacturer may be prepared for the seasons 
of activity in the shoe trade. 

As the vats, and other appliances, are partially 
in the earth, and the buildings must be constructed 



EARLY MOROCCO BUSINESS IN LYNN. 33 1 

with regard to their adaptability to this particular 
craft, and as it, therefore, requires considerable capi- 
tal to be invested in these fixtures, which, unused, 
are comparatively w^orthless, those who engage in 
the trade do it with the calculation of making it a 
settled business. This has, undoubtedly, deterred 
man}' from undertaking it, who would do so, pro- 
vided thev could leave it as easily as thev miaht 
enter it. Another requisite to success in this busi- 
ness is that which commands success in any busi- 
ness — an education in the trade, a personal ac- 
quaintance with the details of the processes em- 
ployed, and the exercise of proper judgment in 
each. 

From the best information that can be obtained 
the whole amount of business now done (1880) is 
about $2,000,000, or nearh^ three times the amount 
carried on tw^enty years ago. 

There are at the present dme twenty-three estab- 
lishments engaged in this business ; but a few of 
these are, for the most part, dealers rather than 
manufacturers. 

Some eight of the largest firms do four-fifths of 
this entire amount, and three of the largest reach 
an aggregate of about $1,000,000. 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 



As already intimated in a former chapter, the 
revolution in the methods of carrying on the shoe 
trade in all its branches began with the introduction 
of the sewing machine in 1852. Slight advantages 
in the way of improved kit had been gained before. 
As early as 1834 an " edge iron " was introduced 
to polish — or " sleek," as the shoemakers called 
it — the heavy edges of '' welts " and "imitation," 
in place of the old-fashioned " shoulder- stick." 
This iron is in the writer's possession, and upon it 
is inscribed — " This is the first double-iron ever 
made ; invented by John Johnson, and made by 
Aaron Tufts, Lynn." The term "double" meant 
that it had two " shoulders," one on each side — one 
for the thickest edges, the other for the lightest. 
As the iron could be heated, this " hot kit " gave 
the edges a polish and solidness which the wooden 
"shoulder-stick" could not do. A veteran shoe- 
maker informs the writer that he used such an iron 
before the above date. " Soap stones " were also 
used, to some extent, to polish the edges in making 
" heavy work." 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 333 

Several other small inventions, each one slight 
in itself, improved the art of the shoemaker, mak- 
ing the work of his hands better as the years went 
on. Two more important improvements were made 
prior to 1S52 — patterns for "rounding on " the soles, 
and "block " lasts, which superseded the use of 
" instep-leathers." (This piece of kit was inad- 
vertently omitted in the list given in a previous 
chapter. ) The " instep-leather " in the hands of 
the old-time shoemaker was not exactly an en- 
chanter's rod ; but he could do wonders with it by 
skillful manipulation. If he wished to make a 
" slim " shoe he would not push it so far toward the 
toe. If the boss told him to make 'em "full " then 
no such caution w^as used, and perhaps a wedge 
would be driven in besides. Good workmen had 
several instep-leathers, so as to meet all emergen- 
cies ; but the poor workman — poor in skill and 
poorer in purse — often had but one, which was 
made to play fast and loose along a sliding scale of 
geometrical proportions between the widest ex- 
tremes of " slim " and "full." One can imagine 
the comments made as a lot of these shoes were 
examined b}^ the "boss." "Uncle Jim! what did 
you ' sew these shoes out ' so for ; did n't you have 
any instep-leather ? " Then the boss would try to 
get his hand down toward the toe, but could n't. 
Then he would take up another pair, and put his 
hand in each shoe by turns. "That's about right, 



334 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Uncle Jim, full enough, plenty : " and so, perhaps. 
Uncle Jim consoled himself with the thought that 
he had made the average about right. One lot of 
these shoes would sometimes fulfill pretty much all 
conditions of " fullness " and " slimness." And so 
one would hear in the retail stores — '' Have vou a 
pair of fives, slim?" The dealer, not knowing ex- 
actly where to look, would examine all the fives he 
had, and when he found a pair that he supposed 
were about right, one of them could be got on the 
foot, but the other could n't. This illustrates the 
science of those times. The "block'* last swept 
away this relic of mechanical barbarism, and 
brought uniformity of fullness out of the chaos of 
uncertainty, by making it necessary for the work- 
man to " last " the upper down snug over the block. 
The instep-leather thus came to an end, and no 
longer tempted the genius of the sons of Crispin. 
The sole-pattern gave uniformity of shape and 
width, as the block-last had made certain the uni- 
formity of fullness, and so these two essential con- 
ditions in the shoemaker's art were secured. 

It is now but little more than thirty years since 
the practice of making lasts of regularly graded 
widths was adopted. Before this time, shoes were 
classed in two general divisions, wide and narrow, 
/ul I 2inA slim, the wide being generally full, and 
the narrow generally slim, but not always. As 
already shown, a good deal of uncertainty hung 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 335 

over it. When some one having an eye to method 
made known the phin of hibelling the narrowest 
lasts used "A," next in width "B," and so on to 
"D," a long stride was taken, though it now seems 
so simple a thing. 

What was called the " Kimball " last was intro- 
duced about 1848. This was the first really scien- 
tific last used in the making of ladies' shoes. Each 
set of these lasts had " sliding blocks " that fitted 
into a groove in the last, each block marked "slim," 
"medium," or "full." This gave all grades of 
fullness. Other block-lasts were afterw^ard used, 
and more especially when the work came to be 
done in the large factories. This block was sawed 
out from the top of the last, and regular graded 
fullness was secured by having the uppers lasted 
down snug to the block when it was in its proper 
place. (Similar block-lasts had long been in use 
in making men's boots and shoes.) This shut out 
all uncertainty, and left the workman no room for 
the display of originality. As, by this arrange- 
ment, each last was made of the required fullness 
there was no chance for any mistake that might 
have come from the use of the w^'ong bk)ck, when 
there were three or four of them of different degrees 
of fullness belonging to each set of lasts. These 
lasts were also graded according to width ; each 
last of each set being marked. There were four 



336 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

grades, A, B, C and D ; A representing the 
narrowest, and D the widest. 

Ahnost simultaneously with this improvement in 
lasts, was the introduction of the "Congress Boot." 
This invention consisted in the insertion of a 
" rubber gore " on either side of the top of the boot. 
Its elasticity obviated the necessity of the " lace," 
which is indispensable when non-elastic material 
is used. This style became very popular on ac- 
count of its convenience. The patent for Essex 
county was granted to Charles Winslow. of Lynn, 
near the close of 1848. 

BINDING SHOES. 

The introduction of the sewing machine, soon 
made the old-fashioned method of binding shoes by 
hand well nigh a lost art. The machine at first 
did its work but indifferentlv well ; but improve- 
ments were soon made that overcame all the essen- 
tial difficulties that lay in the way of complete suc- 
cess. The saving of labor was so great, and the 
nicety of the work, which could be done with 
almost mathematical exactness, was so far be3^ond 
the old-time product of the hand-needle that in a 
few years the shoe-binder, and her mission, became 
historical reminiscences. But these reminiscences 
are wortlw a place in these pages. 

The shoe-binder of Lvnn performed a very im- 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 



1 1 rr 



portant part in the domestic economy ot" the house- 
hold thirty, or more, years ago. The shoemaker's 
wife and daughters — if he had any — were often 
his best bowers, enablincr him to weather many a 
financial tempest — on a small scale — and were 
often the chief reliance when the head of the family, 
through sickness, or other causes, could no longer 
work to support the family. As the wife and 
daughters "bound" the shoes made by the work- 
men of the family, the "uppers," all ready to 
"bind," with the needful silk, cotton and thread, 
and sometimes beeswax, made part of the load 
carried home in the "little cart," or in some other 
way, from the boss' shop. Then there would be 
a little delay, perhaps, until a shoe was bound, with 
which to start oft' the new lot. 

But, generally, before the "jour " got his " stock " 
seasoned, one or two "uppers" were ready, and 
enough were usually bound ahead to keep all hands 
at work. And so, now and then, the order would 
be heard — " Come, John, go and see if your mother 
has got a shoe bound : I 'm all ready to last it." 
It may be well to notice here that the "jours" often 
called the "uppers " 5/^c'd'5, and the soles '^stuffs."" 
Accordingly, one would hear the remark — "The 
' boss ' did n't give me ' stuffs ' enough " — meaninor 
soles — or, "Come, William, go over to Isaiah's 
and get me a lot of shoes and ' stuffs.' " The dic- 
' 43 



338 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

tionaries do not recogrnize this use of the word 
'' Stuffs," but the shoemakers did. 

The style of " uppers " in vogue some forty years 
ago, and later, was a " foxed " boot. This foxing 
was of kid, with lasting top, and the boot laced in 
front. A few years later the " gaiter boot " came 
into fashion, which usualh' had a lower foxing, and 
the "lace" on the side. These were usually made 
"right" and '"left." The binding of these boots, 
when it was done well, was quite a nice job. The 
price of binding ranged from seventeen to twenty- 
five cents a pair, and a smart woman could bind 
four pairs a day, and sometimes even more. 

It will be seen that such help was no small item 
in maintaining the family. Many a little home 
\\'as earned b}' "all hands," father and mother, boys 
and girls, who worked for years, cheered by the 
hope of paying off the mortgage, so that they could 
have a "house of their own." The following ver- 
ses, written by Lucy Larcom, and found in a vol- 
ume of her poems, may not be out of place here : 

HANNAH BINDING SHOES. 

Poor lone Hannah, 
Sitting at the window, binding shoes. 

Faded, wrinkled. 
Sitting, stitching, in a mournful muse. 
Bright-eyed beauty once was she, 
When the bloom was on the tree : 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 339 

Spring and winter 
Hannah's at the window, binding shoes. 

• Not a neighbor 
Passing nod or answer will refuse, 

To her whisper, 
"Is there from the fishers anv news?" 
O, her heart's adrift, with one 
On an endless voyage gone ! 

Night and morning, 
Hannah's at the window, binding shoes. 

Fair young Hannah. 
Ben, the sun-burnt fisher, gayly woos. 

Hale and clever, 
For a willing heart and hand he sues. 
Mid-day skies ai-e all aglow. 
And the waves are laughing so ! 

For her wedding, 
Hannah leaves her window and her shoes. 

May is passing : 
Mid the apple boughs a pigeon coos, 

Hannah shudders. 
For the mild southwester mischief iTfews, 
Round the rocks of Marblehead : 
Outward bound, a schooner sped : 

Silent, lonesome, 
Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. 

'T is November, 
Now no tear her wasted cheek bedews. 

From Newfoimdland 
Not a sail returning will she lose, 
Whispering hoarseh\ *• Fishermen 
Have you, have you hcai-d of Ben. ^" 

Old with watching, 
Hannah "s at the window, bindini; shoes. 



340 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Twenty winters 
Bleach and tear the ragged shore she views. 

Twenty seasons : 
Never one has brought her any news. 
Still her dim eyes silently 
Chase the white sails o'er the sea : 

Hopeless, faithful, 
Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. 

But the introduction of the sewing machine ended 
all this, and soon were seen the stitching- shops in 
different parts of the city, (Lynn became a city in 
1850,) and the peculiar rattle of the machine made 
a new music more suggestive of industry than of 
the harmony of sweet sounds. These shops were 
sometimes small buildings standing b}- themselves, 
but more frequently rooms fitted up in some part of 
the shoe factpr}'. But these machines were des- 
tined to have a wider use than that afforded by the 
stitching shop of the shoe manufacturer. They 
soon found their way into almost every house to be 
used, not only for the various kinds of work re- 
quired in stitching " uppers," but for every kind of 
sewing needed in the household. 

Soon after the sewing machine was brought into 
use the whirligig of time brought heeled shoes — 
for ladies — again into fashion. This stvle had 
prevailed for some time prior to 1830, when the 
'' spring heel " gradually led the way to no heel, at 
all, a few years after this date. About 1855, ^^^^ de- 
mand tor heeled shoes again began, and with this 



'I'HE TRANSITION PERIOD. 34I 

demand began the practice of employing the ''jours" 
to work in the factories of the manufacturers to 
" heel " the shoes. From this grew up that specialty 
in the shoemaker's trade known as " heeling." A 
man working exclusively at this branch of the craft 
soon became an expert, even though he knew 
nothing- else of the art of shoemaking. The " heel- 
ing " was afterward subdivided into " nailing," 
" shaving," " blacking " and " polishing ; " and from 
this gradually came that minute division which is 
now the marked feature in this business, distinguish- 
ing the new order of things from the old. Before 
this time the shoemaker got his ''stock" in the 
crudest form ; sometimes cutting the soles from 
part of a side of leather, and making the shoes 
complete in everything pertaining to the "bottoms," 
so that when it left his hands it was ready for the 
foot of the wearer. The period w as now reached 
when the great change took place. The revolu- 
tion in the shoe business occurred during the ten 
years ending 1865. From 1855, or a little later, 
the workmen began to leave the " little shop " to 
work in the factories of the manufacturers ; and in 
a few years vacant shops were seen all over the 
city, until most of them were transformed into hen- 
houses or coal-pens, or were moved and joined to 
some house to make a snug little kitchen. Some 
of the larger ones were sold to men of slender 
means to be finished off into a tenement, eked out. 



342 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

perhaps, by a small addition, that made it look very 
much like a house. A few still linger among us, 
characteristic mementoes of the olden time ; and 
fewer still are occupied by the small number of 
veteran shoemakers — for the most part — who could 
not find it an easy thing to break up the associations 
of long years, and so "stood by" the "old shop," 
and did a little "handwork" for those manufac- 
turers who made no " machine work," or whose 
business included both kinds. 

The introduction of the McKay machine, in 1862, 
made as complete a revolution in the work of the 
shoemaker as the stitching machine had done for 
the binder. To those not familiar with the " craft " 
it may be interesting to know why this was so. 
The machine-m.ade shoe is, as a matter of necessity, 
a doubled-soled shoe ; and, hence, took the place, 
in a a"i'eat deorree, of the old hand-made "welt." 
This hand-made welted shoe required two seams, 
the inner seam, or the sewing-in of the welt — and 
upper — and the "stitching," or sewing together of 
the welt and the outer sole. The average time re- 
quired in sewing each of these seams was not less 
than fifteen minutes, or half an hour for each shoe, 
or an hour for each pair. The McKay machine, 
by sewing directly through inner sole, upper and 
outer sole, substituted one seam for two ; and when 
it was worked by " power," such %vas the expedition 
of its movements that eighty pairs an hour have 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. ^^^ 

been stitched upon it, giving less than twentv-three 
seconds to each shoe. 

The McKay machine was first run by foot power. 
The introduction of steam power into the shoe fac- 
tory did not become general until some years after 
the McKay machine came into use. Steam, as a 
motive power to facilitate the making of shoes, was 
first introduced into the factory of John Wooldredge, 
in 1858. It was used to run a machine for making 
heels. Mr. Wooldredge also merits the distinc- 
tion — as mentioned in a preceding chapter — of 
having introduced the sewing machine into Lvnn. 

Soon after the close of the war, in 1865, the in- 
troduction of steam became general in all the laro-e 
shoe factories. The use of the McKay machine 
suggested the economy of steam power; and it 
also suggested, and almost made necessary, a 
dozen minor inventions — mostly the products of 
the mechanics engaged in the craft — some of them 
exceedingly ingenious and effective in saving labor. 
This brought about the division of work already 
alluded to, and classified it into separate depart- 
ments. 

To show how minute is the division of labor in 
the shoe factor}' of to-day, the following list, show- 
ing the number of operatives employed upon the 
different parts, will w^ell illustrate : 

Beginning with the sole cutter — i, stripper: 2. 
sole-cutter; 3, sorter: 4, tier-up. 



344 



SKETCHES OF LYNX. 



Beginning now with the upper stock in the cut- 
tino'-room — i, outside cutter; 2, Hning cutter: 3, 
trimming cutter ; 4, dier-out. 

When the uppers reach the stitching shop they 
pass — 5, into the hands of the lining maker: 6, 
closer; 7, seam-rubber : 8, back-stayer ; 9, front- 
stayer ; 10, closer-on ; 11, turner; 12, top-stitcher ; 
13, button-hole cutter; 14, corder ; 15. vamper ; 
16, button sewer-on. 

The uppers and bottom stock are now taken to 
the lasting — or finishing — room. x\s we have 
already seen, the bottom stock has passed through 
four processes, ending with the tier-up. These, 
added to the sixteen through which the uppers have 
passed, make twenty before they reach the hands 
of the stock-fitter. From this point the process 
goes on — 21, stock-fitter; 22, laster ; 23, sole- 
layer; 24, stitcher; 25, beater-out ; 26, trimmer ; 
27, setter; 28, liner ; 29, nailer; 30, shaver; 31. 
buffer; 32, burnisher; 33, channeller. To these 
is sometimes added a channel-turner. Boys usu- 
ally perform these minor parts. 

And these various processes, minute as they seem, 
give but a partial view of the multiplied divisions 
that have already taken place. To illustrate this 
still further : In some of the manufactories the 
" nailing " and " shaving " are done by a McKay 
"nailer and shaver." A boy "sets" the nails, a 
single stroke of the machine fastens them, and a 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. SOLE-CUTTING. 345 

circular motion of the machine shaves the heel with 
geometrical exactness at one cut, and in an instant 
of time. The boys who perform these minor parts 
gain a nimbleness of manipulation that gives them 
an expertness hardly possible to be gained by older 
hands. These forty, more or less, distinct opera- 
tions will soon become fifty, and the end is not yet. 
But perfection is never reached. New inventions 
still spring from the brain of the ingenious me- 
chanic, and inferior contrivances drop into oblivion, 
or find their way to the cabinets of antiquarians. 

All the adjuncts of the shoe business grew up, 
chiefl}', during this transition period. Among 
others was — 

SOLE-CUTTING. 

The sole-cutting business of Lynn grew up from 
very small beginnings. From the best information 
obtainable, David H. Estes, of Ward Seven, seems to 
have been the pioneer in the business of selling cut 
sole leather. But he cut no soles. He bought the 
odds and ends of leather, and cut them into inner- 
soles and stiffenings, selling them to those manu- 
facturers that had need of such supplies. This was 
about the year 1845 . Mr. Estes' business increased, 
but he confined it, mainly, to the cheaper grades of 
soles, inner-soles and stiffenings. He continued in 
this business until his death, in December, 1878. 
■ 44 



^ i6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

A 3^ear or two later John Spinney engaged in 
the same business, in a small way, in connection 
with the shoe business. About the same time 
Perry Newhall began business in the same line, 
cutting, at tirst, only cheap soles, stiffenings, etc., 
obtained from " roundings." This was the term 
used by curriers w^ho "rounded off" with their 
knife the shank, or that part of the hide that was 
untit for "upper" leather. Sole leather, which, in 
old times, came untrimmed — that is, was sent to 
market in full sides, including skirts, bellies, 
shanks, etc., was afterward trimmed, or "cropped" 
before being shipped, and hence took the name of 
" cropped " leather. Mr. Newhall's business at 
first was confined to the cutting of these "round- 
ings;" but as the shoe trade of the town grew, a 
demand arose for cut soles ready to hand. 

As already intimated, the supply of a certain 
sort of soles would accumulate in the hands of the 
old-time manufacturer. In the season of " heavy 
w^ork" thick soles would be in demand, and there 
would be a surplus of light soles ; and in the season 
of " light work " the reverse of this would occur. 

As the shoe interest of the city became larger, 
the want of an arrangement was felt by which 
the bosses could dispose of their surplus stock. The 
early sole dealers, and Mr. Newhall especially, 
met this want. At first their business was dealing 
in soles, rather than cutting them. As Mr. New- 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. SOLE-CUTTING. 347 

hall went the rounds among his customers, one 
would inform him that he had a lot of " heavy " or 
" light " soles, as the case may have been. Mr. 
Newhall — having, perhaps, a customer for them, 
in his eye — would buy his heavy soles and sell 
him a lot of liirht ones. 

Gradually he took up the sole-cutting business in 
all its departments : supplying every grade, from 
the heaviest to the lightest. Mr. Newhall was, 
doubtless, the pioneer in this business, covering the 
whole field of sole-cutting. He is still in business, 
the veteran, as well as the pioneer, of a trade that 
has since reached such vast proportions. 

Thomas Hicks Attwill began the business soon 
after Mr. Newhall. Like those who went before 
him, he began by cutting " roundings," and con- 
fined his trade chiefly to cheap soles, stifllenings, 
etc. As business extended he cut a larger variety 
of soles, though he bought and cut few whole sides. 
He continued in business until the close of 1852. 

In January, 1853, his son, Theodore Attwill. 
took up the business. He cut soles of everv grade, 
and as the demand for cut soles rapidly increased, 
he soon became the leading dealer in everything 
pertaining to this branch of the trade. He also 
dealt largely in sole leather. Mr. Attwill retired 
from this business in 1877. 

William A. Bacheller began business in 1854. 
His trade, like others, at first was small, and con- 



348 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

fined to the cutting of " roundings " and pieces into 
stifteniugs and cheap soles. His trade increased, 
and he soon did a large business in sole-cutting in 
all its branches. He is still eno-ag-ed in business in 
Bubier's Block, on the west side of Market street. 

George E. Batcheller, brother of William, began 
business in 1856. Like others who did business 
when this trade was a new industry, Mr. Batcheller 
cut few soles at first ; but his trade increased until 
his business covered the whole field of sole-cutting. 
Mr. Batcheller is still engaged in business in Sweet- 
ser's Block, on Railroad avenue, near Union street. 

About i860 Samuel Boyce began the business of 
sole-cutting, to some extent, in connection with the 
manufacture of shoes ; but his business was small 
in this line, until the revival of business, soon after 
the beginning of the war. His trade then largely 
increased, and continued until his death, in 1875. 

In January, i860, Peter Johnson and C. A. John- 
son formed a partnership. Their shop was on 
Spring street. They continued in business one 
year. Peter, soon after, established himself on the 
corner of Railroad avenue and Willow street. He 
cut children's soles chiefly, this branch of the trade 
having grown rapidly during the few preceding 
years. In 1S66 he formed a partnership with his 
son, H. F. Johnson. Their place of business was 
on Union street, a few rods east of Washington 
street. Mr. Johnson retired from the firm near the 




AMERICAN BEATIXG-OUT MACHINE. 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. SOLE-CUTTING. 349 

close of 1871, when a new one was formed of H. 
F. & Herbert, a younger brother. They have done 
a thriving business, confining their trade entirely to 
the cutting and sale of children's soles. 

In 1861 Christopher Johnson, Jr., Martin H. 
Hood and C. A. Johnson entered the sole-cutting 
business, under the firm of Johnson, Hood & Co. 
They did a very large business, and cut soles of 
every grade. In 1868 C. A. Johnson withdrew, 
and the business was continued b}- the remaining 
partners of the firm. Thomas C. Johnson then 
became a partner, the firm being known as John- 
son, Hood & Co. 

In' April, 1871, Christopher Johnson, Jr., with- 
drew, and set up business in the basement of the 
bank building, on Exchange street. The firm con- 
tinued the business at the old stand until the Fall 
of 1879, when they changed their quarters to the 
new block of Walter S. Dickson, standing between 
Central avenue and Willow street. The firm then 
became known as Hood, Johnson & Co. Soon 
after their removal, a branch of their business — 
sometime before established — removed to the old 
stand. It is at present the largest establishment 
of the kind in the City, and probably in the world. 

In the Fall of 1871 Christopher Johnson, Jr., re- 
moved his business to the block of Benjamin F. 
Spinney, corner of Union and Almont streets. His 
trade increased rapidly, and in 1873 his business 



350 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

rivalled that of an}- establishment in the citw Mr. 
Johnson retired from business in 1874. 

Edwin Hulen began business in i860, in West 
Lynn. Mr. Hulen did a moderate business until 
his death, in 1865. 

Asa Mullen began business about i860. He re- 
tired from business in 1872. 

James P. Boyce began business in 1863. Mr. 
Boyce did a large business until 1870, when he re- 
tired. His successors, James A. Breed and James 
Hilliker, under the firm of Breed & Hilliker, fol- 
lowed in the same line, and are still doing business 
at the same stand. 

Eustis Newhall began business in 1864. He was 
the pioneer in cuttmg men's soles. Mr. Newhall 
is now doing business on Willow street, facing 
Munroe street. He has lately increased his busi- 
ness, and has now' (1880) one of the largest estab- 
lishments in the cit}-. 

George & Brother began business on Exchange 
street in 1865. They soon after removed to their 
present location, a few rods east, on the same street. 
Their business steadily increased, and during the 
last few years their establishment has been one of 
the largest in the city. They are still in business. 

David Boynton began business in 1865, on Wash- 
ington street, near the railroad. He has always 
done a large business, and has made a specialty of 
cutting men's soles. He occupied this store ten 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. SOEE-CUTTING. 35 I 

years. In 1875 he formed a partnership with Wil- 
liam H. Bancroft, and removed to Sweetser's new 
block, on the corner of Washington and Oxford 
streets. The destruction of this block b}' fire in 
1878 caused their removal to the next building, 
where they are now located. Their trade in men's 
soles is the largest in the city, and their sales to 
outside buyers, far and near, is larger than that of 
any other establishment. 

Proctor & Ingalls began business in 1865, in the 
basement of Lucian Newhall's block, on Exchange 
street. This firm has always done a large busi- 
ness. The have occupied their present store,' on 
Union street, a few rods from the corner of Ex- 
change street, since 1872. 

William A. Attwill began business about 1866, on 
North Common street. He continued in the trade 
but a short time. 

Brown & Oliver began business in 1866, on Bos- 
ton street, near the Saugus line. They removed 
to the basement of J. N. Smith's block, on Union 
street, in 1873. They removed to their present 
stand, on Central avenue, in 1877. They have 
done, and are still doing, quite a large business. 

Jeremiah L. Libbey began business in 1865, on 
Union street. In 1879 ^^ ^^ok his son as partner, 
the firm now being known as J. L. Libbey & Son. 
Mr. Libbey has alwa3^s done a large business. 

Hill & Lothrop began business in 1869. In 187 1 



352 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Robert Bartlett & Son took the business, and car- 
ried it on till 1878, when the son retired, and Mr. 
Bartlett senior continued the business. His present 
location is in the basement of Bubier's Block, on 
the west side of Market street. 

Lothrop & Bowen began business near the close 
of 1872, on Union street. They soon after removed 
to their present location in Haskell's Block, oppo- 
site. Their trade has steadily increased, and they 
now do a large business. 

Walter S. Dickson began business in 1873. His 
trade increased rapidly, and in 1879 ^^ removed 
to his new block, at the east end of the triangle 
between Willow street and Central avenue. 

Charles E. Harwood began business as a sole cut- 
ter in 1867, in connection with the sale of heels, 
and the cutting of stiffenings, etc. He cuts, chiefly, 
soles of a cheaper grade. His present place of 
business is on Union street, opposite Sweetser's 
Block. 

W. W. George began business in 1879. He is 
doing a large and increasing business. 

Charles H. Libbey & Son began business in 
1879, ^" Union street, near the head of Washington 
street. 

Rufus E. Hilliard began business the present year 
(1880) in the basement of Sweetser's Block, cor- 
ner of Oxford street and Central avenue. His 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. SOLE-CUTTING. 353 

trade has rapidly increased, and he is now doing a 
large business. 

T. W. Tyler & Co. have lately taken up the busi- 
ness of cutting a cheap grade of soles, in connection 
with their business as dealers in rubber goods. 

Besides the business done by those who confine 
themselves to this branch of trade exclusively, there 
are thousands of pairs cut and sold annually by 
some of our large shoe manufacturers, besides those 
needed for their own use. Some of these, whose 
business requires a heavy grade of soles, accumu- 
late a stock of a lighter grade. These they sell. 
Others, whose trade is in a cheaper kind of shoe, 
have a surplus of high-priced soles which they dis- 
pose of. 

This business is almost exclusively a Lynn in- 
dustry. Very few soles are cut — to sell — else- 
where. Haverhill does something in this line ; but 
her trade, as compared with that of Lynn, is in- 
significant. The trade of our city in cut leather 
reaches all over the country, and it is estimated 
that from one-third to one-half of the entire product 
is sold to dealers in other places. 

As already mentioned in the " General Review " 
the first sole-cutting machine used in L3mn was in- 
vented by Richard Richards, of Lynn, in 1844. 
Shortly after, George Foster made some improve- 
ments in this machine : and still later John Thomp- 
son, of Marblehead, added some new features, 
45 



354 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

which were patented. These machines had two 
revolving knives, each blade turning and cutting 
one side of the sole alternately. One or two other 
machines, acting on different principles', were used 
for a short time. 

In i860 David Knox, an ingenious mechanic of 
Lynn, made a radical improvement in the machines 
in use, for which he obtained a patent. The pecul- 
iarit}' consisted in the reciprocal motion of the two 
knives, which, playing on a short arm, cut alter- 
nately each side of the sole, as each blade descended 
by turns into the same groove of the cutting block. 
This machine soon superseded all others in use. 

To illustrate the economy of labor which this ma- 
chine brought about, it is only necessary to say that 
the old-time cutter, standing at the " leather-board," 
could cut by hand — if smart — ten middling sized 
sides of leather a day. An active man, with one of 
these machines, can cut two hundred and fifty sides, 
after they have been cut into strips by the " strip- 
per," as described in a previous chapter. 

These machines have been generally run bv 
steam power in the large establishments since 1872. 
This does not much accelerate the movement ; but 
it saves the strength of the operative, and especially 
the muscles of the right leg, upon which there was 
a constant strain when the machine was run by 
"foot power;" and it goes, besides, with a steadi- 









Slj '^i 



THE TRANSITION PERIOD. SOLE-CUTTING. 355 

ness of motion that saves the wear and tear of the 
machine. 

In the "General Review" — page 19 — the "strip- 
per" was mentioned ^^ -preceding the "sole cutter." 
Its use was nearly simultaneous, or followed im- 
mediately. 

The following figures, from a statement prepared 
by George W. Mudge, who is authority on all mat- 
ters relating to this branch of trade, will give some 
idea of the magnitude of this busi'iess : 

" During the past year there has been cut four hundred 
and eight thousand seven hunch-ed and twenty (4087,20) 
sides, weighing six millions seven hundred and forty- 
three thousand eight hundred and eighty (6,743,880) 
pounds, being a weekly average of seven thousand eight 
hundred and sixty (7,860) sides, weighing one hun- 
dred and twenty-nine tliousand six hundred and ninety 
(139.690) pounds. The estimated number of pairs of 
soles, embracing men's, w^omen's, misses' and children's, 
is fifteen millions five hundred and thirty-one thousand 
three hundred and sixty (15,531,360) pairs, being a 
wx^ekly average of two hundred and ninety-eight thou- 
sand six hundred and eighty (298,680) pairs. 

The value of this leather before cutting is esti- 
mated at about $1,900,000. 

These figures w^ere obtained in 1879, ^^^ the 
trade has largelv increased since. 



356 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

The amount of business now done (1880) is esti- 
mated at about $3,000,000. 

As already hinted in a preceding chapter, the 
outcome of all this is a more perfect product. The 
work done in L3'nn, in every branch of the shoe 
business, w^as never so good as at present. The 
law of adaptation is recognized, and guides every 
process. There is little waste, and that little is 
becoming less. Ever3thing is utilized. In short, 
scientific exactness takes the place of guess- 
work, and systematic economy the place of wasteful 
methods. 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 



The first act relating to public instruction, accord- 
ing to Lewis' History of Lynn, was an act passed 
by the Court, October, 1647, as follows: 

" That every town containing fifty families should have 
a school for reading and writing; and that all towns con- 
taining one hundred families should maintain a grammar 
school." 

The first mention made in the town records of 
any matter pertaining to schools in Lynn was in 
January of the year 1695 — the present records 
going back only to 1690. The earlier records were 
lost or destroyed. The following extracts from 
these records are believed to contain every signifi- 
cant vote passed by the town upon the subject of 
public instruction, from the first settlement of the 
place — so far as known — down to near a period 
when published reports make known the condition 
of our schools in all their details : 

January, 1696. — "The Selectmen agreed with Mr. 
Normenton to be the schoolmaster for the town for said 



358 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

year ensuing, and the Town is to give him five pounds 
for his labors, and the Town is to pay twentv-five shil- 
lings towards the hire of Nathan Newhall's house for a 
year to keep school in. and that said Mr. Normenton hire 
said house." 

November 5, 1701 : — Voted, ••' To have a grammar 
schoolmaster to keep school ; " and. at the same meet- 
ing, it was voted, '■'• That thirty pounds money for the 
maintenance of a grammar schoolmaster for one vear. 
beginning when such schoolmaster shall be settled in the 
town, to teach such as shall be sent to him, Latin, or to 
write, cipher and read ; " and it was also voted, ''That 
Theophilus Burrill shall take care to procure a school- 
master forthwith, or as soon as mav be." 

At a December meeting of the same vear it was voted, 
" That the school for the year ensuing shall be a free 
school for the town, and so be kept bv the schoolmaster, 
as other free schools are." It was also voted, " That the 
rate granted to maintain the school shall be paid at or 
before the first day of June next ensuing. 

March 1, 1702 : — Voted, "That all such that shall be 
sent to the schoolmaster for the present vear to learn to 
read shall pay him three-pence a week, and all such as 
shall be sent to him to learn to write and cipher shall 
pay four-pence a week." 

December 14, 1702: — The vote passed, "That ten 
pounds of money for part of the maintenance of a gram- 
mar schoolmaster, qualified according to law, for the year 
beginning when such schoolmaster shall be settled in the 
school to teach such as shall be sent to him to I'ead, 
write and cijDhef, and to learn Latin ; and such master 
to have over and above the said ten pounds, twopence 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 359 

per week for such as are sent to read, three-pence per 
week for them that are sent to write and cipher, and six- 
pence per w'eek for tliem that are sent to learn Latin; 
to be paid by the parents and masters that send their 
children or servants to learn as aforesaid. 

January, 1703: — Voted, ''That ten pounds money in 
addition to the ten pounds granted in December 14, 1702, 
for part of the maintenance of a grammar schoolmaster, 
as expressed in said vote ; and declared the Selectmen 
should obtain a schoolmaster for this present year as 
cheap as they can." 

April 19, 1703: — Voted, "That the Selectmen shall 
take care to build a convenient house for the town to 
keep school in, and to get it done as cheap as they can. 
and the town to pay for the same ; and to stand in some 
convenient place betwixt the meeting house and the 
burying place as shall be set out by Sergeant John 
Dinon, Henry Collins and John Breed — or any two of 
them agreeing thereto." This house was not built this 
year. 

February 13, 1704: — Voted, •• That Mr. Jerry Cormin 
should keep a grammar school in the town and teach 
such as are sent to him to read, write and cipher, and 
Latin for two months next after his year is up ; and the 
.Selectmen to agree with him for the same." 

November 15, 1706: — Voted, '' To hire a grammar 
schoolmaster to keep school in the town for three months, 
viz : January, February, March next following." At 
the same meeting it was voted, " Thirty pounds money 
to pay the schoolmaster, and other town debts." 

March 5, 1710: — Voted, •' To have a grammar school- 
master to keep school in said town for the year ensuing, 



360 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

and to be paid by the town, the Selectmen to obtain and 
settle said school in such state and places in the town -as 
they shall judge best to promote learning." 

March 3, 171 1 : — Voted, '' That Capt. Johnson, Capt. 
Bancroft, Henry Collins, Jr., and William Merriam be 
chosen to obtain a schoolmaster, and agree with him, 
and to settle the schools as shall be judged best." 

March 17, 1712: — Voted, "That twenty pounds be 
assessed on the town to pay for the schoolmaster, and to 
defra}' the necessary charges arising in the town, and to 
be paid in bills of credit." 

Bills of credit to the amount of fifty thousand 
pounds were issued by the General Court, to be 
distributed to the towns, in proportion to the taxes, 
to be repaid at a specified time. 

The following description of one of these bills is 
given in Drake's History of Boston : 

" No. (916.) 20s. This indented Bill of Twentv 
shillings, due from the Massachusetts Colony to the 
possessor, shall be in value equal to money, and shall be 
accordingly accepted by the Treasurer and receiver sub- 
ordinate to him, in all Public payments, and for an\' 
Stock at any time in the Treasury. Boston, New Eng- 
land, February the third, 1690. 

By order of the General Court : — Elisha Hutchinson, 
John Walley, Tim. Thornton, Comitee." 

March 7, 1714: — Voted, "That the Selectmen obtain 
a schoolmaster, and agree with him. and settle said 
schools as shall be judged best by them." 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 361 

March 5. 1715 : — Voted, " That ninety pounds be paid 
to the town, and no more, for the providing a school- 
master, according to law, and the remainder to be made 
[up] by said schollars, as the committee shall order ; 
and Left. John Hawkes and John Ivory were chosen bv 
the town to provide a schoolmaster in manner as above 
described for the year ensuing." '• That the committee 
that Vv-as chosen at our last annual March meeting should 
provide a schoolmaster for the town for the provision 
that the town had made last March meeting as long as 
thev can " 

October 17, 1715 : — Voted, "-That ninety pounds be 
raised to pay the schoolmaster ; and the necessary charges 
arising in the town are to be assessed as the law directs." 

October 5, 1716, Voted, "At the request of the present 
schoolmaster, Mr. Bishop, that he be dismissed when 
the quarter is up : also, that Lieutenant Breed, Ensign 
Mansfield and Mr. John Hawkes be a committee to ob- 
tain a schoolmaster, qualified according to law, to keep 
school till next March meeting." 

March 3. 1717: — Voted. "That Daniel Hitchings, 
Ebenezer Burrill, Lieutenant James Pearson, Lieutenant 
Potter and William Ballard be a committee to obtain a 
schoolmaster, agree with him, and settle the school as 
shall be judged best bv them, and in their agreeing with 
him to have relation to some help for Mr. Shepard in 
preaching." 

March 2, 171S: — Voted. " That the Selectmen obtain 
a schoolmaster, and agree with him, 'the school to be 
kept in four parts of the town, viz : The body of the 
town ; over the bridge ; the Woodend. and the new por- 
tion, as near as mav be in proportion to each part's big- 
46 



362 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ness, as shall be ordered by the Selectmen ; having re- 
gard for some help for the Rev. Mr. Shepard in preach- 
ing." 

October 10, 1720: — Voted, " To raise seventy pounds 
to pay for the school, and all proper town debts, and to 
be assessed by the Selectmen." At the same meeting, 
" That the Selectmen have charge of the schools." 

May 16, 1722: — The following petition was offered: 
" In that Ebenezer Barker [or Baker] was to be school- 
master, provided he answer the law in that case — we, 
the subscribers, desire that our dissent may be enforced 
against the vote that is past for Mr, Ebenezer Barker for 
schoolmaster, for we think he is not qualified according 
to law. Signed, Capt. John Breed, Capt. Benjamin 
Potter, Daniel Mansfield, Jun., and eighteen others." 
At the same meeting it was voted, "■ That John Hawkes, 
Thomas Cheever, Left. Farrington, Left. James Pearson, 
Samuel Collins, William Curtis and Thomas Norwood 
should be a committee to order the school in the several 
parts of the town, as they shall see best." 

It seems that this petition did n't amount to much, as 
we find the following vote, passed March i, 1723, " That 
"Ebenezer Barker shall have forty pounds for his keeping 
school this year, which will be up the fourteenth of May 
next ensuing." 

In May of the same year it was voted, •• That Eben- 
ezer Barker be schoolmaster for the year ensuing, pro- 
vided the committee could agree with him upon reason- 
able terms, and tliat the same committee regulate the 
school this year that was last year." 

May I =5, 1724 : — The record says : " There was granted 
forty shillings to William Ballard, according to his re- 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 363 

quest, for keeping school fifteen days ; " and at the same 
meeting it was voted. '' That Left. James Pearson. Mr. 
Ebenezer Burrill. Ensign Richard Mower. Daniel Mans- 
field, Tun., Mr. William Curtis be a committee to obtain 

* 
a schoolmaster for the year ensuing." 

In May, 1736. it was voted, "That Ebenezer Baker 
be chosen schoolmaster for the year ensuing, and to have 
forty-four pounds for his service for the year ; the school 
to be kept in the several parts of the town as the last 
year, and the same committee that ordered it the last 
year; and the same committee to order the school into 
wdiat part, first, second, thirtl and fourth, as thev mav 
deem most convenient." 

May 15, 1727: —Voted, " That Mr. Ebenezer Baker 
lie chosen a schoolmaster for the year ensuing, and to 
liave forty pounds for his service for keeping the school 
the year, and Mr. Ebenezer Burrill, Capt. Potter, Daniel 
Mansfield, Mr. Ebenezer Merriam and George Messard 
be chosen a committee to order the school, and proportion 
it in several parts of the town, as in times past has been." 

March 28, 173S :— Voted, " That the Selectmen shall 
take care to procure a grammar schoolmaster, and consider 
what allowance may be made to the North precinct for 
their part of the school." Voted, '' That the school 
shall not be moved this year, and the Selectmen to look 
[up] a convenient place for to set up a school house on." 

This part of Reading was formerly a part of 
L3'nn. In the History of Reading it is stated that — 

" In 1713 it was enacted that so much of the territory 
of the town as lies north of Ipswich river, together with 



364 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Saddler's Neck — so called — be set off as a distinct 
Parish, by the name of the Nortli Precinct." 

May 15, 1727: — Voted, '■'That a committee to con- 
sider what may be proper to be done about building a 
school house or houses, and to make report to the Select- 
men what they think convenient to be done about it, so 
that Selectmen may call a town meeting, if they think 
it proper." '' Said committee was chosen, who are as 
follows, to wit : Lieut. Ebenezer Burrill, Capt. Benjamin 
Potter, Ebenezer Merriam, William Collins, Robert 
Edmonds, John Burrige and Richard Johnson." 

October 21, 1738: — Voted, ''That the North precinct 
shall not be rated to building a school house or houses in 
the town." At the same meeting it was voted, '' That 
there shall be two school houses builded in the town : 
the one betwixt Richard Johnson's house and Godfree 
Tarbox's house, the other on the westerly side of Mower's 
Hill — so called — near [where] the house stood [where] 
Samuel Mower formerly lived." At the same meeting 
it was voted, " That the town will sell that piece of land 
upon the eastward of the County Road above William 
Proctor's house, near Henry Collins' h»use ; aod the 
same committee that was appointed to consider about 
building the school houses shall view said land, and any 
other piece or corner of land that may be sold, and con- 
sider the value of the same, and who will purchase the 
same ; and consider what bigness the said school house 
should be, and make their report to the Selectmen, that 
they may call a meeting that so the said committee may 
make their report to the town." 

November S, 1728 : — Voted, " That the several pieces 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNX. 365 

or strips of land that the committee have viewed and 
made report upon shall be disposetl of by the committee 
according to the prices the said committee hath agreed 
upon." Voted, " That the same committee that was 
appointed to make the sale of the land for building the 
school house shall take care and order the building of the 
school houses." 

March 3. 1729 : — Voted, '' That the committee appoint- 
ed to sell land to build the school houses hath full power 
to sell any other piece or pieces of land as they shall 
think convenient to finish said houses." 

According to the record, these were the first 
school houses built in the town. Mr. Lewis, in his 
History, makes mention of but one — that which 
was located in " Laighton's lane," now^ Franklin 
street. The other — as is shown by the record — 
was built " westerly of Mower's hill." 

October 16, 1729: — Voted, *' That the North precinct 
shall have seven pounds paid to them to fence in their 
burying place ; and that said precinct shall have their 
proportion of money that belongs to them for the school 
paid to them to pay for the keeping a school or schools 
amongst them for the year past." 

April 5, 1730 : — Voted, " That the North precinct shall 
have their proportion of the schools kept among them- 
selves." 

At a meeting of the Selectmen, held May 3, 1831 : •• It 
was agreed by all the Selectmen that the North precinct 
shall have the school kept there three months, beginnino- 
the eighth day of this montl) ; and the schools hath been 



366 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

kept from the eightli day of Januarv last until the eighth 
day of this May in the west end of the town, and there- 
fore, when the North precinct hath had theirs three 
months, the school is to be kept in the easterly end of the 
town four months : and then to be kept in the North 
precinct until they have their proportion of the school." 

June 30, 1731 : — Voted, *■' That one of the school 
houses shall be removed to '' Mill Hill " (Water Hill.) 
It was also voted, " That the Selectmen shall take care 
and get the said school house removed and convenient 
for to keep school in." 

May iS, 1733: — Voted. "That the North precinct 
shall have their part of the schools in schooling for the 
time past what is due to them, and the Selectmen to pro- 
portion and order the same." 

September 16, 1734 • — Voted, "That Ebenezer Bur- 
rill, Esq., and Captain William Collins shall have full 
power for and in liehalf of the town to petition the Gen- 
eral Court for a tract of Province land to help support 
the schools in said town." Also, " That Richard John- 
son, for and in behalf of the committee appointed by the 
town to sell several pieces of common land to build 
school houses, made an account of the money they re- 
ceived and the cost of the school houses, and that there 
remained in his hands over and above what they had ex- 
pended upon said houses one pound one shilling and 
eleven pence ; upon which said Johnson was discharged 
and ordered to keep such money in his hands until the 
further order of the town." 

September i^, 1735 : — '' The town ordered Richard 
Johnson to put the above-mentioned one pound one shil- 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 367 

ling and eleven pence into the town's money to pay the 
town's debts, the which the said Johnson hath done." 

" Lynn, Sept. 14, 1740. — Whereas the town gave 
liberty to the Selectmen to sell the town's house that was 
built for a school house beyond the hill beyond Jacob 
Newhall's, in observance of that order I have sold the 
house to Nathaniel Townsend for eighteen pounds, and I 
have, received eighteen pounds Province bills of said 
Townsend for the use of the town. 

Richard Johnson, 

Town Treasurer." 

May 4, 1753 : — *' A meeting was called to see if the 
town will remove the school house at Mill Hill to the 
place where it formerly stood, and choose a committee 
to regulate the school. Likewise, to see if the town will 
sell or let all their common lands excepting that which 
lies between the old meeting house and the burying place, 
and appropriate the proceeds to maintain the school in 
the town — [or] otherwise, as they shall see cause ; and 
to choose a committee to manage said afFaii's — further, 
to see if the town will give unto Jacob Tarbox the school 
house which he now lives in, or to let [it] stand for the 
use of the poor." 

In 1752 it was voted, "That the Third Parish have 
their proportionate part of the school kept in said Parish." 
Voted,'"' To move the school house to the place where 
it formerly stood ; also, it was put to vote to choose a 
committee to regulate the school. It was passed in the 
negative." 

November 13, 1752: — A meeting was called, ''To 
see if the town will remove the school house from w^here 
it now stands to either of the places mentioned in a re- 



368 SKETCHES OF LYXN. 

quest of thirteen of the inhabitants, or to build a new 
school house, and grant money to defray the charge that 
may thereby arise." It was voted. " That the school 
house be removed from the place where it now stands, 
that is in Laton's [Laighton'sj lane, so called, to a knoll 
in the middle of the Common, between Pappoon land 
and Qlpt. Benjamin Xewhall's land, and the charge to 
be borne out of the town's monev granted this year." 

March 4. 1754: — •• It was put to vote to see if the 
town would order the grammar school to be kept in the 
body of the town for the future : and it was passed in the 
negative." 

May II. 1759: — A meeting was held to consider, 
among other things. "Whether the town will settle a 
school in the body of the town to be statedly kept through 
the year, and allow the North and West Parishes to draw 
their proportion of monev they shall pav towards the 
support of said schools upon their providing schools 
among themselves at such seasons of the year as will best 
suit them, to the amount of said sum. Likewise, to see 
whether the town will choose a committee to provide a 
schoolmaster, and visit the schools, in order to see what 
progress the children and youth have or shall make in 
their learning from time to time, and in all resrards to 
regulate the school as may best serve the public interest, 
which we apprehend has been verv much neglected in 
years past, agi^eeably to a petition preferred to the Select- 
men." Signed bv sixteen freeholders. On these two 
propositions the town voted in the negative. 

A careful examination of the town records fails to 
show that the town took any action relating to 



TlIK FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 369 

schools during the preceding six years. This, 
probably, was what gave rise to the above petition. 
The principal legislation seems to have been di- 
rected, during these 3-ears, to ordering off people 
who had lately come into town. 

March 5, 1764: — A meeting was called, '* To see if 
the town will order the schools to be kept in the First 
Parish in said town, and pay the Second and Third 
Parishes proportionable parts of what money said schools 
shall cost, agreeable to a petition of fifteen of the inhab- 
itants of said town, it was voted the schools shall be 
statedly kept in the old Parish, and that the other two 
Parishes should draw their proportionable part of the 
money the schools shall cost, provided the said two 
Parishes improve the money they draw for schooling." 

In Alay, 1772, it was voted, •' That fifteen pounds be 
given to the North Parish to enable them to build a 
school house in said Parish." Also, "Fifteen pounds to 
said West Parish toward the charge of liuilding a school 
house in said Parish." 

September, 1778: — Voted, "To sell Samuel Collins, 
and others, of the Qiiaker Society, a piece of land to set 
a school house on, they paying four pounds." 

March i, 17S4: — Voted, •' To choose a committee of 
three men to settle the clause in the notification respect- 
ing the schools." This committee reported on the 
fifteenth of the same month, as follows: 

" We, your committee chosen by the town to regulate 
the school, and likewise [whether] the Friends draw 
their proportionable part of the school money, are of the 
47 



370 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

opinion that it is best for this town to keep two schools, 
one in tlie body of the town all the year, and the other in 
West end of the town and amongst the Friends in pro- 
portion as they pay taxes. And we further recommend 
to the said town to choose a committee or committees 
to visit them quarterly. 

By order of the committee. 

Sylvan us Hussey, 

Chairman." 

On this report it was voted, at an adjourned meeting, 
March 15, '" To choose a committee of nine persons to 
have the whole care and direction of the schools in said 
town, viz : Three for each Parish, and three among 
Friends; for the East Parish, John Flagg, Esq., Col. 
John Mansfield and Daniel Newhall, Jun. ; for the West 
Parish, Abner Cheever, Thomas Stocker and William 
Sweetser ; for the Friends' Society, Sjdvanus Hussev, 
Samuel Collins and Daniel Newhall ; and said committee 
to visit the schools quarterly." 

February 23, 1792 : — A meeting was called at which 
it was voted, '• To see if the town will grant to the 
Methodist Society their proportion of the moneys that 
the town may grant for the support of schools, to be 
made use of as the Society may think proper." It was 
voted, " That the Methodists do not draw their part of 
the school money back." 

The absence of all legislation pertaining to schools 
between 1784 and 1792 is probably to be accounted 
for, in part, bv the impoverished condition of the 
town, in common with all sections of the country, 
in the years immediately followino- the revolution- 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 



61 



arv war. Schools were probabl}' kept durino- this 
interval — as well as at other times when no hint 
of the tact is given in the record — but, evidenth-, 
little was done to meet the wants of an increasing 
population. 

At a ^hu•cll meeting held in 1794 it was voted, •• To 
choose a committee of two from each of the four Wards 
to take into consideration the matter of making some 
new regulations for the schools; and Benjamin Johnson, 
Micajah Newhall, Col. Frederic Breed. James Robert- 
son, Samuel Collins, Henry Oliver, Col. Ebenezer 
Stocker and Col. Abner Cheever were chosen that com- 
mittee. They reported at an adjourned meeting in April 
as follows : 

*' That there be four school Wards in the town, divid- 
ed and determined as follows: First Ward — The First 
Ward shall begin at the west corner of the Methodist 
meeting house, and run to the entrance of Trevet's lane, 
(now Laighton street, then extending through ISIaple 
street, to Chestmit street, whose west end was then called 
Mansfield's lane,) including the west side of the road, 
thence shall include Mansfield's lane, thence including 
the Great Road. (Boston street, which then run round 
what is now called North Bend,) to the brook, between 
John Willis' and Robert Mansfield's, and shall include 
all the inhabitants to the south and westward of said line 
to the line that divides the west" Parish from old Parish ; 
that the said west Parish (now Saugus) shall be the Sec- 
ond Ward. 

Third \Vard — The Society of the Friends in the sev- 
eral parts of the town shall be the Third Ward ; agree- 
ably to a resolution of the town ; any thing herein "con- 
tained including [said] inhabitants notwithstanding. 



372 SKETCHES OF I.YNN. 

Fourth Ward — That the Fourth Ward shall include 
all the inhabitants on the road from the Black Marsh to 
the Methodist meeting house, thence to the east side of 
road to the entrance of Trevet's lane, also beginning at 
the lane between Willis' and Mansfield's, above-men- 
tioned, and including all the inhabitants in the town that 
lyeth north and east of said line, to Lynnfield, Danvers 
and Salem line. 

That the old school house be sold to the highest bidder, 
and the proceeds thereof appropriated to the building a 
new school house. 

That the grammar school be kept in the First Ward, 
and that the town [build] provide a suitable house for 
the purpose. 

That the town grant forty pounds ($133.33) toward 
building a school house for the South [Fourth.^] W^ard, 
and that the First Ward, and the South Wards, make up 
the sum that may be wanted to complete the same. 

That the town grant the sum of two hundred pounds, 
annually, ($666.66) for the svipport of its schools, and 
that the grammar school draw annually out of the above 
grant fourteen pounds, (46.66,) and that the remainder 
of the grant be divided to the foiu" Wards in proportion 
as they several!}' pay taxes. 

Signed, 

Samuel Collins. 

Per order of the town." 



At the same meeting it was voted : — " That two hun- 
dred pounds be assessed on the inhabitants to support 
their schools the current year." 

Voted: — " To choose a committee to see what the 
cost of building a new school house, and report in Afav 
what they can have it for." 

Voted : — " That Col. John Mansfield, William New- 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 373 

hall. Jr., and Benjamin Alley be a committee for that 
purpose." 

Voted : — " To sell the old school house at this time at 
vendue." 

" Sold the old house for sixteen pounds to Samuel 
Johnson." 

This was the old school house built on Franklin 
street, 1728, (then called Laighton street,) and 
afterward moved to the Common, where it stood 
until the date above given. 

This seems to have been the first mention of a 
division of the town into Wards. Prior to this time 
the different sections were designated by the term 
pari'sk, district or prccitict. The language of the 
record, showing that " a committee of two from each 
of the tour Wards " be chosen, would seem to imply 
that these Ward boundaries were already in exist- 
ence ; but there is nothing in the records to sustain 
tiiis view. The use of the words " four Wards " 
instead of sections — or an equivalent word — seems 
to have been an inadvertence, and simpl}- foreshad- 
owed what was to be. 

By this new arrangement of Ward boundaries 
the entire eastern and north-eastern section of the 
town, from Market street — and including that 
street — thence following the shore — and including 
Nahant — to the Salem line; thence following the 
line dividing Salem and Dan vers (now Peabody) 
from Lvnn, back to the old Boston road — and in- 



374 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

eluding all the inhabitants on the east side of said 
road — through Maple and Franklin streets to the 
old Methodist meeting house, constituted Ward 
Four. The Friends, wherever located, made up 
Ward Three. The inhabitants of Sauf>;;us and 
Lynnfield constituted Ward Two ; and all others 
located between these boundaries, (Friends ex- 
cepted,) beginning with Market street on the east, 
and including a large part of what is now Ward 
Five, all ot" Wards Six and Seven, and a part of 
Ward Two, constituted Ward One. It was in this 
Ward that the ]irincipal, or grammar, school — as 
it was called by way of distinction — was located, 
and which received the largest appropriation made 
tbr the support of schools : and it was here where 
the lirst two school houses were built. 

At the next meeting the committee reported as 
follows : 



"■ That they have consulted several carpenters who 
estimate the cost from four hundred to four hundred and 
fifty dollars in cash ; but did not care to undertake them- 
selves to do the job. Your committee have examined 
the cost of the Proprietors' school house, which was one 
hundred and eighty pounds, ($600,) exclusive of shovel, 
tongs, desk, chair, ink-stand and little liouse. They have 
also met the proprietors of the above school house to 
know the least they will take for said house, which they 
find to he foui' hvmdred dollars, to be paid in town orders. 

Gentlemen : Your committee, considering the abate- 
ment of one hundred and fiftv dollars, [and] on account 
of its eleaance. the difference of advancing" cash and 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 375 

paViiif^ of orders, and being obliged to jjaj- rent for 
seven or eight months, till a new one can be built, are 
unanimously of opinion that it is better to purchase than 
to build ; which we hereby submit to the wisdom of the 
town. 

Signed, 

John Mansfield, 
William New-hall, Jr.. 
Benjamin Alley." 

Voted: — "'That the Selectmen be a committee to 
purchase the above-mentioned school house of the own- 
ers, and take a deed of the same, and pay the owners in 
town orders, agreeable to the committee's report." 

It will be seen by the preceding records that the 
tirst school established by the order of the town was 
in January, 1696. Whether there was any school 
kept prior to this time, and subsequent to the order 
of the Court — October, 1647 — before quoted, 
cannot be definitely known, as there are no tow^n 
records covering this period. 

As this act of the Court did not make the estab- 
lishment of a school compulsory upon any town 
until the population should reach " one hundred 
families," it is probable that no public school was 
kept until the time mentioned in the record — 1696. 
During the nearly seventy years between the settle- 
ment of the town in 1629, and this date, private in- 
struction was, doubtless, provided for those children 
whose parents could afford it ; but it is not likely 
that the proportion of such was large in the section 



376 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

comprised within the limits of LN-nn. It has been 
remarked that the innnediate descendants of the 
Pilgrims — most of wiiom were persons of educa- 
tion, and possessed wealth — were better instructed 
than the few succeeding- fjenerations. 

This is unquestionably true. Other things being 
equal, the pecuniary resources of a people deter- 
mine the educational standard that prevails. The 
earl}'- settlers of Lynn did as well as they were able, 
doubtless, in this respect. The few unfertile acres, 
half tilled by the unskillful husbandr\^ of those 
early times, \'ielded barely the common necessaries 
of life ; and the}' probably made greater sacritices 
to give their children the luxur\- of the little learn- 
ing afforded by the common schools, than were 
made to gain any other end. 

As shown by the record, no school house was 
erected by the town until 1728, when two were 
built; one in Laighton's lane — now Franklin 
street — the other on a lot of land some distance 
west of" Mower's Hill." This was a hill lying be- 
tween Tower Hill and East Saugus, on the old Bos- 
ton road. This school house was used but a short 
time, as the record shows it was sold in 1740 to 
Nathaniel I'ownsend for fourteen pounds. From 
this date the only school house in town for thirty- 
two }ears was that built on Laighton's lane. Upon 
what part of Franklin street this first-named school 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 377 

house was built the writer has not been able to 
ascertain. 

As seen by the record, the town voted in 1772 to 
give fifteen pounds to build a school house in the 
North Parish, (Lynnfield,) and the same sum to 
the West Parish, (Saugus,) for a like purpose. 
These were probabh' the first school houses built 
in these districts. 

In 1777 the "Friends considered the question at 
their '' preparative meeting " of setting up a school 
of their own. After some months' deliberation the 
plan was settled, and in 1778 the town voted : 

'' To sell to Samuel Collins, and others of the Qiiaker 
Society, a piece of land to set a school house on : the}- 
paying four pounds." 

According to the " statement " prepared by the 
late Samuel Boyce, for Parsons Cooke's "Centuries," 
this school house stood on Broad street, on the 
Union Store lot. It was afterward removed to the 
lot now making the southwest corner of Market 
and Summer streets, near the site of the present 
post othce. This house was sold, and another ob- 
tained and placed upon the original lot on Broad 
street. This building was sold about the year 1810 
to Moses A. Tucker, who removed it to a lot on 
the turnpike in Gravesend — now^ Glenmere — and 
changed it into a dwellino- house. 

This Friends' school, referred to in the record, 
48 



37^ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

though supported in part by the town's money, was 
a sectarian school, to which none but the children 
of Friends were admitted, except in few instances, 
and in those cases by an act of grace. 

As " schools " are frequently mentioned in the 
records of this period, the question has arisen 
whether there were more schools than one kept at 
the same time — except in those years above- 
named — within the limits of the tow'n prior to the 
year 1794, when the school house was built at the 
corner of Collins and Fayette streets, and when the 
school house, which stood at the west end of the 
Common, was purchased trom certain parties by 
the town. 

It seems quite clear, from the language of these 
records, that, wdth the exception of the short period 
of twelve years subsequent to the building of the 
tw^o school houses erected in 1728, there was but 
one school kept in the town — not including Saugus 
and Lynnfield within the territory — until 17787 
when the Friends built their school house, as above 
stated. The "school" of these days, it seems, w^as 
a movable institution, kept at different times, in 
different parts of the town, for the accommodation 
of the sparsely settled and widely-spread population ; 
and that prior to 1764, when the town voted to ex- 
empt tiie Second and Third Parishes, (Saugus and 
Lvnntield,) from tlie payment of tiieir part of the 
school tax — " provided the said two parishes im- 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 379 

prove the money they dniw for schooling " — the 
children trom these districts came down to the old 
school honse built in' 1728, located, first on Frank- 
lin street, then on Water Hill, (1731,) then again 
on Franklin street, (1752,) then — in the same 
year — moved to the Common, where it stood until 
1794, when it was sold at auction to Samuel John- 
son tor sixteen pounds. 

Stephen N. Breed informed the writer that when 
his father went to the school on the Common — 
between 1775 ^^^^ 1780 — the scholars came from 
both sections, east and west. The boys trom the 
easterly section were called " gulls,"' and those from 
the westerly section " alewives." 

Persons now living remember to have heard old 
people relate, as among their boy experiences, the 
story of coming all the way from Woodend with, a 
stout stick of wood on their shoulder as their con- 
tribution to the winter's fire, built in the capacious 
fire-place, long before stoves were thought of in 
this section. 

The building designated as the " Proprietors' " 
school house, stood till 1826, at the west end of the 
Common, just outside of the enclosure, as now 
bounded, and as shown by the records, was bought 
by the town in 1794. It was then, probably, nearly 
new, as its "elegance" was mentioned bv the com- 
mittee who bought it. 

From the best intbrmation obtainable it was built 



380 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

by the following individuals — and perhaps others 
— and used for a short time as a private school : 
Frederic Breed, Col. James Robinson, John Carver, 
Amos Rhodes, Aaron Breed, Joel Newhall, Daniel 
A. B. Newhall, Col. John Mansfield and William 
Farrington. There seems to be a strange lack of 
expli'citness and discrimination in the record re- 
specting the school house built at the same time on 
Chestnut street, near where — afterward — Collins 
street entered it. 

The report of the school committee for the year 
1800 — quoted hereafter — seems to clear up the 
obscurity. This report alludes to this school house 
as having been built by an appropriation from the 
town, and by money contributed by the First and 
Fotirth Wards. As the sums mentioned corre- 
spond to those voted by the town, as shown by the 
record, for the year 1794, there is hardly a doubt 
that this school house was built in Ward Three at 
that time : but the singular fact about it is, that no 
notice is taken of the building of this school house, 
and no allusion to it whatever appears in the rec- 
ords, while details of the purchase of the other are 
given, down to a specification of siiovel, tongs, ink- 
stand, etc. 

May 6, 1795 : — Voted, " That three hundred pounds 
be appropriated to the support of schools." 

May 10. 1796: — Voted, '"Three hundred pounds for 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNX. 381 

the support of schools the ensuing \ ear. ^Vt the same 
meeting it was voted, "That thirty pounds more be 
granted for the support of schools." Also, •• To choose a 
committee to join with the Selectmen to view the West 
End school house, and report to the town their opinion." 

May 29, 1796:— •• That the vote that thirty ponnds 
more be added to the support of schools be reconsidered." 
Voted, •• To recommit the West End school house peti- 
tion, with the addition of one man." 

In March, 1797, the committee on the West End 
school house report, "That they have attended to the 
business assigned them, and find the said house in its 

present situation will not accommodate the vouth the 

committee, willing to place the inhabitants of said Ward 
upon a footing of equality with the rest of the town re- 
specting the education of the youth, present the following 
report to the town for their acceptance — that the town 
direct the agents of said Ward to di'aw from the Treasurer 
the sum of one hundred dollars to be appropriated to the 
purpose of enlarging, repairing or erecting a school house 
tor the accommodation of said Ward ; " when this re- 
port was accepted it was with this addition, that the 
nioney should be drawn out of the tax for 1797. 

This was probably the scho(3l hoiLse built for the 
West Parish, in 1764. 

April 3, 1797 : —Voted, " That $1,000 be assessed for 
the support of schools." 

In March, 1799, it was voted, "To choose a school 
conmiittee of one iron] each school Ward. Voted, 



382 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

" That Jacob Ingalls, Henrv Oliver. Aaron Breed and 
Thonias JMansfield, Jun.. be the school committee. 

The committee chosen at this meeting reported as fol- 
lows : 

•* The committee, to whom was referred the article in 
the Notification for town meeting respecting schools, 
having considered the subject, and offer the following re- 
port for the town's acceptance : That it will be expedi- 
ent for the town to choose a superintending committee, 
to consist of one member at large from each school Ward : 
the duty of this committee to institute general regulation 
for all the schools in town ; to view% with the district 
committee and others, each school every quarter of a 
year, and to make such, and any, observation and inqui- 
ries of the instructor and pupils as they shall think best. 
They shall report to the town at an annual meeting the 
amount of money expended in each school, for each \-ear. 
They shall have authority to remove from office any in- 
structor who shall want the necessary qualification. 

That there be chosen annually by the town, district 
school committees consisting of three members in each 
district, to pi'esent a list of nomination for said committee. 
It shall be the duty of each of these committees to select 
and contract with a suitable instructor for their several 
districts. They shall, with the voice of the superintend- 
ing members of their districts, allot a suitable part of the 
instructor's time for the education of females in their sev- 
eral districts. 

They shall furnish their instructors with such particu- 
lar regulation for their school as shall be deemed neces- 
sary for the good government of the same, and direct the 
instructor to comply on their part, and enforce a com- 
pliance on the part of each pupil, and in case of aggriev- 
ance in either part it shall be decided by the superin- 
tending committee. Thev shall visit their respective 
schools once evxry month in the vear. Thev shall fur- 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 383 

iiisli wood for. and make all iiecessarv repairs in their 
. respective school houses, and present their account an- 
nually for the Selectmen for allowance. 

With respect to the petition of Timothy Johnson, and 
others, it is the opinion of the committee that at present 
it would be very inconvenient to make any alterations in 
the districts of schools. 

Signed, 

Joiix L. Johnson, 
Samuel Collins, Jun.. 
James Gardner, 
James Robertson, 
Jacob I>;galls, 
Henry Oliyer, 
Aaron Breed, 
Thomas Mansfield, Jun." 

In April, of the same year, a meeting was called, "To 
act on the petition of twenty-one of the inhabitants of the 
town i^equesting the town to adopt any method for the 
better accommodation of the petitioners in regard to 
schools now in the town, they being sensible of many 
inconveniences, wish that they might share a part with 
the rest of their neighbors in the privilege of the schools 
now kept in the town." 

In ^lay, 1800, a committee appointed to take into con- 
sideration the condition of the schools, reported as fol- 
lows : 

" Ward One. — Though they have a comfortable school 
house, yet the accommodations are not more than suf- 
ficient for the male children that usually attend. Males 
and females are admitted at certain times. 

Ward Two. — Have a small school house, built partly 
at the expense of the town, and pai'tly at their own ex- 
pense. They have also had a grant of the town of $100, 



384 SKETCHES OF LYNX. 

wliich now lies unappropriated. Male and female youth 
are indiscriminately admitted into said house. 

Ward Three. — Are comfortably accommodated at their 
own expense. Is open for both sexes. 

Ward Four. — Their school is open for children of both 
sexes at ditierent stated periods. The house comfortable, 
and sufficiently commodious. The expenses of said 
house was $333-33, of which the town paid $i33-33, and 
the remainder was made up by the Wards Number One 
and Number Four. 

Respecting the petition from the inhabitants of the 
Second Ward, for a furthei" grant of money to enable 
them to build a new school house, after duly considering 
the foregoing statement, we beg leaye to offer, as our 
opinion, that it cannot be reasonably expected that the 
town, under all circumstances, should make any further 
grant to them at present for this purpose ; yet, if they, 
after using the money in their own power, should find" 
themselves unable to accommodate themselves with a 
comfortable school house without being too great a bur- 
den, on due representation thereof it will be the duty of 
the town to relieve them — all of which we submit to the 
town. 

Signed, 

Fred'k Breed, 
Henry Oliver, 

Lynn, May 18, 1800. Jacob Ingalls. 

At a meeting held in March, 1S02, it was voted, "• That 
the petition for more money to be granted to the Second 
and Fourth Wards, and also the petition for another 
school in the north part of the old Parish, be referred to 
the same committee to report at the April meeting. 

This committee reported as follows: 
" It is the opinion of the committee that at the present 
it is not expedient for the town to establish any other 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 385 

Ward of schools, but they beg leave to suggest the 
propriety of increasing the school grant from one thou- 
sand to thirteen hundred, to be distributed in the same 
proportion as heretofore divided among the several Wards. 

Timothy Munroe, 

Committee. 

This report was accepted, and thirteen hundred dol- 
lars were appropriated for schools for 1803. For the 
next six years there seems to have been a dearth of school 
legislation. 

In May, 1804, it was voted, " Not to make a new 
school Ward, nor purchase a new school house." 

In March, 1S05, the report of the committee was ac- 
cepted to recommend the town to establish a new school 
Ward out of the First, Second and Third Wards already 
established, including all the inhabitants between the 
form of John Batts and the Chelsea line. 

In August, 1S09, the town voted, "To choose a com- 
mittee for a new arrangement of schools." This com- 
mittee reported in March, iSio, as follows: 

"Firstly. — They have taken the whole number of 
families in town, which they think is accurate, and find 
them to amount to about seven hundred families : of 
which there are in the west Parish, (Saugus,) including 
a few families eastward of the great bridge, (at Saugus 
river,) one hundred and twenty-five ; families belonging 
to the Friends' school, one hundred and twentv-five ; and 
the remaining four hvmdred and fifty are very nearly- 
divided by this arrangement between the First and Fourth 
Wards. Therefore, in the opinion of your committee, 
there is an obvious necessity of establishing a new Ward, 
to be taken off the First and Fourth Wards. 
49 



386 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

They therefore recommend to the town to establish a 
Sixth Ward, as follows : Beginning at the cross road 
between Abner Alley's and James Breed's, and running 
northward to include Nathaniel Alley's house, (this 
house was on a hill — since leveled — between the East- 
ern railroad bed and Union street, about half way be- 
tween Exchange and Silsbee streets,) thence to run on a 
line to the brook between John Willis' and Robert Mans- 
field's, thence on the Boston road to include the Jeremiah 
Bulfinch estate, (this northwestern boundary was a little 
north of the entrance to the cemetery,) thence running a 
direct line to the north corner of Micajah Newhall's land 
at the entrance of Witt's lane, (Shepard street.) Also, 
to include said Witt's lane, and the families, excepting 
Friends on Nahant. They do also recommend to annex 
the families from the top of the hill by John Hawkes' to 
said great bridge to the South Ward in the West Parish, 
denominated the Fifth Ward. The First Ward to ex- 
tend westward to said line on Hawkes' Hill, and east- 
ward to the line designated for the western [limit] of 
said Sixth Ward ; and their report was accepted." 

From the boundaries described in this report the 
new Sixth Ward embraced the western part of what 
is now Ward Four, nearly all of Ward Five, and a 
part of Ward Two. It was doubtless owing to the 
necessities which called for this new arrangement 
that also made it necessary to build the school 
house — already mentioned — which stood at the 
east end of the Common, near the junction of 
Franklin and North Common streets. This was 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 387 

for the school afterward kept by Master Oliver, as 
mentioned in the report for 1812. 

The writer was not able to find any order in the 
town records authorizing the building of this school 
house ; but the committee appointed to examine the 
accounts of the town officers for that year include 
the expense of this building among the items given. 

The following seems to be the first school report 
made to the town : 

April 14, 1S13 : — " Your school committee, who were 
chosen to superintend the several schools in the town of 
Lynn, beg leave to report that they have visited all the 
schools in said town, except Ward Number Two, which 
was omitted on account of Master Swain's indisposition 
at the time of visiting it. 

Your committee found in Ward One sixty-eight pres- 
ent ; whole number said to be one hundred and three. 

Ward Two not visited, for reasons before offered. 

Ward Three, Friends' school, number present were 
sixty-five ; whole number ninety living in the above 
Wai-d. There is a division of males and females, and 
two schools kept. 

Ward Four, Woodend, scholars present, seventy-one ; 
whole number of subjects one hundred ; besides an extra 
school for misses. 

Ward Five — Mrs. Derby's school — found sixty schol- 
ars present ; wliole number, seventy. 

Ward Six — Master Oliver — scholars present, eighty- 
seven ; whole number, one hundred and sixty. 

Your committee also visited Nahant ; found nine pres- 
ent. Also the school at Nathan Hawkes' ; present twelve. 

Also, John Phillips ; number fifteen subjects. All the 
schools visited were in good order. 

Your committee beg leave to report that Ward One 
draws from the town $390 and- $50 for the grammar, 



388 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



total $440, which is $50 dollars more than any other 
school in town ; and as we find said school to be smaller 
than some others in town, we recommend that the above 
allowance for Ward One be the same as that for Wards 
Three, Four and Six, which is $340. We further rec- 
ommend that Nathan Hawkes, and others, draw $10, 
and the citizens of Nahant $10, in addition to their pres- 
ent allowance. All which is respectfully submitted. 

Joseph Johnsox, 
Oliver Fuller, 
Ezra Mudge, 
John Mudge, Jr." 

April 9, 1S13 : — ''Your committee, appointed to ex- 
amine into the state of all the schools in town, in order 
to ascertain the number of subjects of male and female 
from the age of four years to fourteen years, have at- 
tended [to] that service, and ask leave to make the fol- 
lowing report : 



Wards. 


Males. 


Females. 


Total. 


In Ward i 


154 
4^ 
S5 

1 48 
50 

110 


136 

41 

Si 

146 

53 

72 


290 

S3 
166 
294 
10^ 


In Ward 2 


In Ward 3 

In Ward 4 .... • 

In Ward 5 


In Ward 6 


1S2 






Totals 


5S9 


5^9 


i,iiS 







THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 389 

May 6, 1S15 : — Voted, " To see if the town will estab- 
lish another school Ward, agreeable to a petition of 
Robert Mansfield, and others. 

May 15, 1S15 : — Voted. " That the petition of Robert 
Mansfield, and others, be accepted, and that John Pratt, 
James Gardner and Aaron Breed be a committee to act 
on the business to set oft" said Ward, and report at next 
meeting." 

This coinmittce reported in July as follows, and their 
report was accepted : 

" The committee appointed by the town to set oft' a 
school Ward at Gravesend, and agreeable to a petition 
of Robert Mansfield, and others, report they have set oft' 
the same, viz : Beginning at the mile stone near William 
Whitney's old house, formerly John Collins', continuing 
on both sides of the way, or road, to what is called the 
Point of Rocks, near, and north, of John Batts' house, 
thence northeasterly till it comes to Danvers line, thence 
on said line to Salem old road, thence by Salem old road 
to Bolt-hill pasture, thence westerly, so as to include the 
house of Jabez Wait, and the house of W^illiam Clarriage, 
to the mile stone aforesaid. Your committee further 
recommend that the town grant said Ward $133.33 to 
assist said Ward in erecting a suitable house for their 
accommodation, and when they shall have provided 
themselves with said house they shall be entitled to the 
above sum and their proportion of the annual grant of 
the town for the support of schools. All of which we 
submit. John Pratt, 

James Gardner. 
Aaron Breed, 

Lynn, July 35,1815. Committee. 

At the same meeting it was voted, " To choose a com- 
mittee of seven persons to make a new arrangement of 



390 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

schools, and report at the next March meeting-. The fol- 
lowing were the committee: James Gardner, Aaron 
Breed, John Pratt, Nathan Mndge, Jr., ThomjDSon Bur- 
rill, Eleazer C. Richardson and Joseph Fuller," They 
reported as follows : 

" The committee find, by a careful and accurate enu- 
meration of all subjects of schools in the town, that thei'e 
are between the ages of five and fourteen years a total of 
eight hundred and seventy-two children, exclusive of the 
children on Nahant, and at John Lindsay's. That of 
this number the — 

First Ward contains 315 

Second Ward contains 133 

Third Ward contains 200 

Fourth Ward contains 167 

Fifth Ward contains 76 

Sixth Ward contains 40 

Families on, and west, of General's (Tower) Hill 41 

Making a total to be provided for in schools of . 872 

The committee, as their report of their deliberations, 
are fully of the opinion that some alteration on a large 
scale might be made for the convenience and benefit of 
the rising generation ; but when they consider the pres- 
sure of the times, and the embarrassed situation of the 
town in its pecuniary concerns, they do not think it ex- 
pedient for the town at present to create any new school 
Wards ; nor make any alteration in the old ones, except- 
ing in the First Ward, which embraces part of the former 
Fifth Ward. Owing to the separation of the town of 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 39I 

Saugus, the committee recommend that the famihes, in- 
cluding Ezekiel J. Rand, Caleb Lewis, and all the fam- 
ilies to the westward of them, be for the present con- 
sidered a separate District. 

The committee further recommend to the town to 
grant the sum of $1,900 for the support of schools, and 
six per cent, on the same for wood, and that the same be 
apportioned among the Wards and Districts in the fol- 
lowing proportions, and expended for the object of the 
grant, to w'it : 

To the First Ward the sum of $418 

To the Second Ward, Friends' 317 

To the Third Ward, Woodend 380 

To the Fourth Ward, east end of the Common 360 

To the Fifth Ward, Gravesend 170 

To the vSixth Ward, Swampscott 125 

To the West District 85 

To Nahant 40 

To John Lindsay's 5 

Making the total $1,900 

School committee report for 1816: — 

" The superintending committee of schools of the town 
of Lynn, for 1816, having attended to the duty assigned 
them through the year for which they were chosen, ask 
leave to report that in visiting the several schools the 
committee are happy to say that the money so liberally 
granted by the town for schools has been faithfully ap- 
plied to the instruction of the rising generation ; that the 
schools generally appear in a state of progressive im- 
provement. Your committee recommend to the town to 
be very liberal in their next school grant, especially as 



392 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

knowledge is the mainspring of all republican govern- 
ment, and ignorance the greatest in despotic states. 

Per order of 

J. Gardner. 

In November, iSiS, it was voted, " To accept the re- 
port of the committee recommending the approj^riation 
of $60 for a school house on Nahant." 

In the same year it was voted, "• To have seven mem- 
bers to serve on the committee at large, besides one from 
each Ward and District — fifteen in all." 

In May, 1820, it was voted, " To choose a committee 
to take an account of the number of subjects in each 
school Ward, from five to fourteen years of age, and re- 
turn the same to the Selectmen within sixty days, and 
they to make such a distribution of the money granted 
for schools as they may judge most equitable and proper. 
James Gardner, for Ward i ; Stephen Smith, Jr., for 
Ward 3 ; John Ireson, for Ward 3 ; Josiah Newhall, for 
Ward 4; Eleazer C. Richardson, for Ward 5 ; William 
Mansfield, for Ward 6 ; Thompson Burrill, for Ward 7 ; 
Jesse Rice, for Ward 8. 

April, 1820: — Voted, "To accept the following re- 
port, excepting that part relating to the grammar school : " 

'' The committee have repeatedly visited and examined 
the several schools supported by the town ; they can re- 
mark, generally, that the money so liberally granted by 
the town for this object has been faithfully applied in the 
several Wards ; but the committee, though with regret, 
must observe that there appears more or less defect in 
almost every school in town. In some, a want of energy 
in the teacher seems to retard the jDrogress of improve- 
ment. In some, certain contingencies not within the 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 393 

control of the instructors, have operated to the prejudice 
of the school. In otliers, a great deficiency in books, 
ink, quills and paper is apparent, and very detrimental 
to the general progress of the scholars ; a great propor- 
tion of the children in some of the schools are wholly des- 
titute of books, and those which they have are so various 
and different the instructors are unable to form them into 
proper classes. These evils the committee attribute to 
indifference in the parents, want of attention in the im- 
mediate committees, and want of energy in the teachers. 
In several of the schools the number of children is so 
great that the instructors have only one minute and a 
fraction of a minute to devote to each scholar in half a 
day. To obviate this great hindrance to improvement 
the committee are decidedly of the opinion that a per- 
petual grammar school in town is necessary. This, 
under proper instruction and good regulations, would 
draw off a number of subjects from each Ward, and re- 
lieve them from the great burden. In this school lads 
and young men might acquire knowledge competent to 
fit them for business without the expense of sending them 
abroad to academies. Such an establishment is dictated 
by motives of interest, convenience and sovmd policy. 
The committee recommend to their successors in office 
to call a meeting of the several Ward committees, and 
agree on a vmiform system of education, and a new selec- 
tion of books; and if need be, alter the territorial limits 
of some of the Wards, so as to equalize the numbers. 

James Gardner, 

Per order." 



January, 1S21 : — Voted, " That the town be districted 
anew, as it respects the several schools, without any re- 
gard to any particular religious society." 

Since 1794, as has been seen, the Friends, vvhere- 
50 



394 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

ever located, constituted one Ward. This arrange- 
ment ended from tliis date. 

It was voted, '' That a committee l)e appointed, of one 
person to each Ward, in addition to the Selectmen, to 
district the several Wards in town, and report at the 
next town meeting. For Ward One, John Lummus ; 
Ward Two, Abel Houghton ; Ward Three, Nathan 
Mudge, Jr. ; Ward Four, John L. Moulton ; Ward Five, 
James F. Lewis ; Ward Six, Ebenezer Weeks ; Ward 
Seven, John Burrill." 

March, 1S31 : — Voted, "To dispense with the super- 
intending school committee." 

The committe chosen in Janiiar}- reported as follows : 

" That the Wards be numbered in future in the fol- 
lowing order : Ward Six to be called Ward One ; Ward 
Three to be called Ward Two ; Ward Five to be called 
Ward Three ; Ward Two to be called Ward Four ; 
Ward Four to be called Ward Five ; Ward One to be 
called Ward Six ; Ward Seven to be called W^ard Seven ; 
Nahant to be called Ward Eight. They have determined 
the boundaries of the Wards in the following manner, 
each Ward to comprise all the inhabitants living within 
the described limits, and beginning at the easterly part 
of the town and proceeding westerly in numerical order, 
viz : 

Ward One to begin at King's brook, near the beach, 
and running westerly as far as the southern corner of 
Ebenezer Burrill's field, thence northeasterly to the vSalem 
line, thence following this line to the sea. 

Ward Two to begin at King's beach, as aforesaid, and 
running westerly to the town pump, near Charles Chase's, 
thence northwesterly to the gate of Friend's pasture, in 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 395 

Estes' lane, thence northerly to a bridge in Fresh Marsh 
lane, near William Canages's [Clarriage] house, thence 
northeasterly to the Salem line, and following this line 
till it meets the limits of Ward One. 

Ward Three to begin at the aforesaid bridge, near 
William Canage's house, thence running to Samuel Lar- 
rabee's, on the Salem turnpike, thence to the house of 
Edmond Nourse, (on the Whitmore place,) thence 
northerly to the Lynnfield line, and to include all the in- 
habitants north of the limits of Ward Two. 

Ward Four to begin at the town pump, near Charles 
Chase's, and running south as far as the easterly end of 
Long Beach, thence northwesterly to the bridge near 
Tvloulton and Alley's store, (at the southwest end of 
Broad street, near the site of the brick block facing 
Market street,) thence northerly to the magazine in the 
Rocks' pasture, ( just in the rear of the present residence 
of Theodore Attwill, on Essex street,) thence easterlv 
till it meets the boundaries of Ward Two. 

Ward Five to begin at the bridge, near Moulton and 
Alley's store, and including all the houses on the west of 
the road leading to the old wharf, and from said wharf 
running westerly to Kimball Ramsdell's house, thence to, 
and including, the house of Micajah Newhall, thence 
northerly to the house of Capt. [Christopher] Bubier, 
thence easterly to the limits of Ward Three, and to com- 
prise all the inhabitants living between the aforesaid de- 
scribed bounds and those of W^ards Two, Three and Four 

Ward Six to begin at the old meeting house, (on the 
Common,) and running south to John Mudge's wharf, 
thence running westerly to Chase's mills, thence follow- 
ing the stream northerly to the bridge at the foot of Gen- 
eral's Hill, thence to the Downing road, thence easterly 
to the limits of Ward Five. 

Ward Seven to include all the inhabitants living west 
of the bridge, at the foot of General's Hill, between the 
limits of Ward Six and the town of Sausfus. 



396 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Ward Eight. The inhabitants of Nahant to constitute 
a Ward to be designated the Eighth Ward. 
Stephen Smith, 

Chairman of Committee." 

These boundaries remained the same until the 
territory now comprising Ward One was set off 
from Ward Two, March 19, 1836, making another 
school District, known as Ward Nine. This 
arrangement continued until Swampscott was in- 
corporated as a town in 1852, when Ward Nine 
became Ward One in place of Swampscott. The 
next year Nahant became a separate town, and 
Ward Eight was no longer known. At this time 
Wards Two and Three exchanged numbers, and 
the circle was complete as it now stands. 

The first printed school report published by the 
town appeared some fifteen years after the latest 
date here given ; and, as appears under another 
head, was probably written about 1838 by the Rev. 
Samuel D. Robbins, pastor of the Unitarian church. 
For several years prior to this time the school 
report was published in the newspapers of the town. 
From this time onward these reports make known 
all the essential facts respecting our schools and 
school houses. 

In copying the above records the writer has 
not faithfully followed the orthography that con- 
fronted him in these time-worn documents. It was 
too miscellaneous. It was far more unique than 



THE FIRST SCHOOLS OF LYNN. 397 

antique, and conformed to no standard known 
among men. It has been allowed to stand when, 
by so doing, the sense was made clear ; and, though 
an occasional deviation from grammar has been 
permitted to go unchallenged, no pains has been 
taken to copy obvious errors. 



SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES OF 
LYNN. 



The first church in Lynn was organized in 1632. 
First pastor, Rev. Samuel Whiting ; installed No- 
vember 8, 1636. Died December 11, 1679. Rev. 
Thomas Cobbet, (colleague,) installed July, 1637 ; 
remained till 1656. Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, or- 
dained October 6, 1680. Died June 3, 1720. Rev. 
Joseph Whiting, (colleague,) ordained October 6, 
1680; remained till 1681. Rev. Nathaniel Hench- 
men, ordained December, 1720. Died December 
23, 1 761. Rev. John Treadvvell, ordained March 
2, 1763 ; remained till 1782. Rev. Obadiah Par- 
sons, installed February 4, 1784; remained till 
July 16, 1792. Rev. Thomas C. Thacher, ordained 
August 13, 1794; remained till February 3, 1813. 
Rev. Isaac Hurd, ordained September 15, 1813 ; 
remained till May 22, 1816. Rev. Otis Rock- 
wood, ordained July i, 1818 ; remained till May 
12, 1832. Rev. David Peabody, ordained Novem- 
ber 15, 1832; remained till April 22, 1835. Rev. 
Parsons Cooke, installed May 4, 1836. Died Feb- 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 399 

riiary 12, 1864. Rev. James M. Whiton, ordained 
May 10, 1865 ; remained till April 3, 1869. Rev. 
Stephen R. Dennen, installed November 13, 1872 ; 
remained till March 29, 1875. Rev. Walter Bar- 
ton, installed February 24, 1876. Mr. Barton is 
still the pastor. 

CHURCHES. 

The first house of worship built in Lynn was in 
1632. Mr. Lewis tells us "it was a small plain 
building, without bell or cupola, and stood on the 
northeastern corner of Shepard and Summer streets. 
It was placed in a small hollow, that it might be 
better sheltered from the winds, and was j^artly 
sunk into the earth ; being entered by descending 
several steps."' (The porch of this building is still 
in existence, and makes part of a house now on 
Harbor street.) This was occupied by the society 
until 1682, when it was removed to the Common, 
nearly opposite Whiting street, and rebuilt. Its 
dimensions, as given by Mr. Lewis, were fifty feet 
in length, b}^ forty-three feet in width. It had a 
small bell, which hung in the belfry until 1816, 
when a new one, cast by Paul Revere, was put up. 
It was generally known as the " Old Tunnel Meet- 
ing House," from the supposed resemblance of its 
roof to an inverted tunnel. This church w^as re- 
moved from the Common in 1827 to the corner of 



400 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Commercial and South Common streets, and to a 
considerable extent rebuilt. It served the society 
until 1837, when the new church, built the year 
before, was dedicated on the first day of February. 
This stood upon the site of the present church, on 
the corner of Vine and South Common streets. It 
was burned on Christmas night, 1870. On the 
loth day of the following May the corner stone of 
their present fine brick structure was laid, and an 
address delivered by Rev. E. S. Attwood, of Salem. 
It was dedicated August 29, 1872. The sermon on 
the occasion was preached by the pastor-elect. Rev. 
Stephen R. Dennen. 

friends' society. 

According to the sketch of the history of the 
Friends in Lynn, prepared by Samuel Boyce for 
Parsons Cooke's " Centuries," the first meetincr of 
Friends in Lynn was held in a house on the old 
road to Salem, near the Lynn Mineral Spring 
Farm. Such, says Mr. Boyce, was the tradition, 
based upon a statement in " Neal's History," that 
about this time (1658) as many as twenty were 
taken at once from a meeting held at the house of 
Nicholas Phelps, " about five miles from Salem," and 
that Nicholas Phelps' house was about five miles 
from Salem. 

The charge for which they were " taken " from 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 4OI 

this house is not stated. This is a mistake. The 
Historical Collection of the Essex Institute shows 
that the estate of Phelps was near the farms of Robert 
Moulton and Thomas James, in Salem, now West 
Peabody. A notice of a meeting held there June, 
1658, is found in " Felt's Annals of Salem." 

" At a monthly meeting held in Salem, the 2Sth of the 
twelfth month, 16S8, it was concluded to have a meet- 
ing once a month settled at L>nn, for the ease of those 
Friends who are inhabitants there." 

By the records of these meetings the first monthly 
meeting held in Lynn met at the house of Samuel 
Collins, May i8, 1689, when the ibllowing-named 
persons were present : Thomas Made, Daniel South- 
wick, John Blothen, William Williams, Samuel Gas- 
kin, Jr., Samuel Collins, Thomas Graves, Edward 
Gaskin and James Goodridge. 

Mr. Boyce says : " By referring to the records of 
the meeting, it appears that Friends in Lynn suf- 
fered severely for many years by having their 
property taken from them by distraint for priests' 
wages, repairing meeting houses, and for militarv 
fines. Much of the propert}' taken for priests' 
wages was for Jeremiah Shepard." 

The numbers of Friends increasing in Lynn, they 

built (1678) a meeting house on what is now Broad 

street, on a spot then known as Wolf Hill. This 

house stood a few rods east of Silsbee street, c'\nd 

51 



402 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

occupied the land — until 1723 — in front of the pres- 
ent Friends' bur3^ing ground. The next was built 
near the front line of that enclosure, the front ex- 
tending to the present road bed. Its dimensions 
were, forty feet in length, and thirty in width, be- 
sides an extension on the northeast side, used by 
the women of the society to transact their part of 
the business of the organization, according to the 
usages of this body. This house served the pur- 
poses of the society for ninety-three years, or until 
1816, when, having outgrow^n its too narrow lim- 
its, a new house was built by the society, on the lot 
used by them as a burying ground, a few rods — 
in the rear — from the site of the old meeting house. 
It stood on this spot until 1852, when it was moved 
a short distance to its present location on Silsbee 
street. 

The old meeting house was bought by Thomas 
Rich, and moved a few rods to the westward, and 
used by him several years as a warehouse for the 
sale of shoe stock. About 1830 it was used by 
Samuel Boyce as a shoe manufactory ; and about 
five years later it w^as bought by James Breed, and 
moved near to his wharf, to be used as a lumber 
warehouse. It now stands on the same spot, at the 
corner of Broad and Beach streets, and is owned 
by Stephen N. Breed, son of James, above-named, 
who succeeded to his father's business. Though it is 
now a hundred and fifty-seven years old, its stout 



CHURCHES OF I.YNN. 



40; 



oaken frame has kept its symmetry intact ; while oc- 
casional repairs, and the art of the painter, have con- 
cealed its marks of age. 

The "extension" was bought by Nathan Alley, 
and moved to Exchange street, opposite Exchange 
Block, and used by him as a dwelling. It now 
stands on Fayette street, opposite the school house, 
near Collins street. 

In 1835 there were about one hundred families 
belonging to the society in Lynn ; and there was 
but little change during the next twenty years. At 
present their numbers are somewhat less. 

THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 

The first Methodist Society in Lynn was formed 
February 20, 1791, by Rev. Jesse Lee. The first 
meetings were held in the house of Benjamin John- 
son, Sr., near the corner of Essex and Market streets. 
This place proving too small for the growing num- 
bers the society held its meetings for a few months 
in Mr. Johnson's barn, situated in the rear of the 
house. On the 14th of June, 1791, the societv 
began to build the church which stood until 181 2 
on land directly in front of the old church now 
standing opposite City Hall. This little church 
was 34 by 44 feet, and such was the expedition 
with which it was built, that on the twelfth day 
from the beginning of the work, it was dedicated. 



404 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



It was not lathed nor plastered, and the record tells 
us, "it had no front entrance in order to prevent, 
as much as possible, the intrusion of the north-east 
wind'" — stoves not being then in use. It had a 
door on each side toward the east and west, and 
the rear of the church extended about eight feet 
beyond the curb stones into what is now the road 
bed, and its front was within eight feet of the (now) 
old church when that was built in 1812. The first 
church stood until the second was finished. It was 
then removed to West Lynn. The new church had 
old-fashioned high-backed square pews, and a ves- 
try in the rear of the " singers' " seats. The dedi- 
catory sermon was preached by the Rev. Joshua 
Soule — afterward Bishop — on the third day of June. 
In the year 1824 the steeple was lowered sixteen 
feet, as the ringing of the bell was thought to en- 
danger the edifice. In 1834 the house was raised 
three feet, and a vestry finished underneath, the 
old pews were changed to the modern style, a new 
pulpit took the place of the old one, and the vestry 
was converted into an orchestra. In 1853 several 
other changes were made, the floor of the galleries 
was altered to give a greater inclination, the steps 
at the entrance of the church were removed from 
the outside to the inside, the pews were cushioned, 
and the floor carpeted. In 1857 the iron fence was 
built in front of the church by the ladies' sewing 
circle, at a cost of $Soo. In 1858 the church was 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 



405 



enlarged, making room for two hundred and fifty 
additional sittings, and the interior remodeled. A 
fine organ, costing $2000, was also purchased. 
The vestry at this time was enlarged, making it 
capable of seating five hundred persons. 

On the 14th of November, 1877, the corner stone 
of a new church was laid, on North Common street, 
opposite the Soldiers' Monument. A valuable his- 
torical address was delivered b\' George D. Sar- 
geant, and the ceremonies were of an unusually in- 
teresting character. 

The church was nearly completed during the 
next year, and on the 28th of Februar}^, 1879. w-as 
dedicated; Bishop Randolph S. Foster preaching 
the sermon. The buildinfj measures one hundred 
and twenty-three feet in length, and seventy-three in 
width. It has a chapel adjoining, ninety-one feet 
in length, and seventy-three feet in width. It is 
a very tine structure, and an ornament to the city. 

In 1816, Alonzo Lewis formed a Sunday School 
of sixty scholars in the school house which stood on 
the north end of the Common. Mr. Lewis thinks 
this was the second Sunday School formed in the 
State. The school assembled in the morning, and 
at the close of the session marched in procession to 
the church, where most of the parents attended. A 
few of the scholars attended the Consfresrational 
Church. 



406 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

The first parsonage was built in 1803, on the cor- 
ner of Market and South Common streets. It was 
used as such until 1817, when it was sold to Rev. 
Enoch Mudge. In 1833 the second parsonage was 
built on Franklin street, near Hanover. The pres- 
ent parsonage was built in 1858, on Hanover street. 

PASTORS. 

1 791, John Bloodgood, Daniel Smith ; 1792, Men- 
zies Raynor ; 1793, Jordan Rexford ; 1794, Evan 
Rogers; 1795, George Pickering; 1796, James 
Covel ; 1797, John Broadhead ; 1798, Ralph Willis- 
ton ; 1799, Andrew Nichols ; 1800, Joshua Wells ; 
1801, George Pickering, T. F. Sargent; 1802, 
Thomas Ly ell, John Bloodgood ; 1803, Peter Jay ne ; 
1805-6, Daniel Webb : 1807, Nehemiah Coye ; 1808, 
Daniel Young; 1809-10, William Stevens; 1811, 
Asa Kent, Greenlief R. Norris ; 181 2, Joshua Soule, 
Daniel Webb; 1813, Daniel Webb, Elijah Hed- 
ding; 1814, Elijah Hedding, Leonard Frost; 1815, 
George Pickering, Solomon Sias ; 1816, George 
Pickering, B. F. Lambord ; 1817, W. Marsh, 6. 
Hinds ; 1818, Elijah Hedding, James B. Andrews ; 
1819, Elijah Hedding, Enoch Mudge ; 1820, Enoch 
Mudge ; 1821-2, Phineas Peck ; 1823-4, Daniel Fil- 
more; 1825, John F. Adams; 1827, Daniel Fil- 
more ; 1829, Abraham D. Merrill ; 1830, Abraham 
D.Merrill; 1831, Bartholomew Otheman, Selah 



CHURCHES OF LYXN. 4O7 

Stocking; 1832, Bartholomew Otheman ; 1833, 
David Kilburn ; 1834, Jotham Horton ; 1836, 
Thomas C. Pierce ; 1838, Charles P. True ; 1840, 
Charles Adams; 1841, Jefferson Hascall, Lester 
James; 1842, James Porter; 1844, Loranus 
Crowell ; 1846, John W. Merrill ; 1848, Lorenzo 
R.Thayer; 1850, Augustus Adams ; 1852, Henry 
V. Degen ; 1854, William Butler ; 1856, Charles 
N. Smith; 1858, William R. Clark; 1860-61, 
George M. Steele; 1862-3, W. F. Mallalieu ; 
1864-5, J. H. Twombly ; 1S66-8, J. W. F. Barnes ; 
1869-70, David H. Ela: 1871-2, Fales H. New- 
hall : 1873-5, Samuel F. Upham ; 1S76-9, C. D. 
Hills; 1880, Oliver A. Brown. 

ST. Paul's m. e. church. 

The Eastern (now St. Paul's) M. E. Church 
was built in 181 1, and dedicated by Elijah R. 
Sabin November 27th of the same year. It was 
the first Methodist church in Massachusetts that 
was built with a steeple ; $200 was paid for the 
lot, (one fourth of an acre,) the meeting house 
cost about $3000. The audience room was on the 
first floor, and -galleries on three sides. There 
w^ere sixty-six pews in the auditorium, and twenty 
in the gallery. 

In 1813, on the request of ninety-three petitioners, 
it was incorporated as a parish. A stove was in- 



408 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

troduced in 1831 — there having been no fire in 
tlie church before tliis time. A small bell was 
obtained in 1834 ' ^^^^ ^Iso a clock made b}^ Wil- 
lard, of New Bedford. A larger bell was hung 
the next year. In 1846 a floor was built across 
the house on a level with the galleries, making an 
audience room above, and a vestry and parsonage 
below. In 1849 an organ, worth $500, was pur- 
chased by subscription. The present parsonage 
was built in 1859. ^^^^ church was destroyed by 
fire on the night of November 20th, 1859. ^ ^^^ 
bell was ordered in ten days ; within a month a 
committee on plans and estimates for a new church 
was appointed, and in forty-five days from the fire 
the plan of the present house was adopted. The 
vestry, with a seating capacity for five hundred 
persons, was ready for occupancy in March, 1861. 
On the I St of August (1861) the church itself was 
completed. The dedication sermon was preached 
by Rev. L. D. Barrows, D. D. The Female Benev- 
olent Society was formed in 1821, and the Young 
Ladies' Sewing Circle in October, 1858. 

From 1815 till 1827 a school was held on Satur- 
day afternoon, superintended by the pastors, hav- 
ing the characteristics of a modern Suiida}' school, 
but did not become a Sunday school until the latter 
year, (1827) when it was permanently established. 
Shadrach Ramsdell was the first superintendent. 
The pulpit was supplied from the dedication until 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 4O9 

June, 181 2, b}' Epaphras Kibb}-, a local preacher. 
The first stationed preacher tVom Conference was 
Daniel Webb, in 1812-13, followed bv, 1814, 
Leonard Frost; 1815-16, Solomon Sias ; 1817. 
Orlando Hines ; 1818, James Ambler ; 1819, Eli- 
jah Hedding : 1820-1, Timothy Merritt ; 1822-3, 
Shipley W. Wilson ; 1824, Elijah Spear ; 1825-6-7, 
Epaphras Kibby : 1828-9, Joseph A. Merrill ; 
1830, Ephraim Wiley: 1831, Shipley W. Wilson; 
1832-3, John Lovejoy ; 1834-5, Isaac Bonney ; 
1836, Daniel Filmore ; 1837, John Parker; 1838-9, 
A. D.Sargent; 1840-1, William Smith ; 1842-3, 
Jacob Sanborn; 1844, Samuel A. Gushing; 1845, 
Phineas Crandall ; 1846-7, Joseph Dennison ; 1848, 
A. D. Merrill : 1849-50, Stephen Gushing; 1851-2, 
Chester Field ; 1853, Nelson Stetson; 1854-5, N. 
D. George; 1856, D. L. Gear; 1857-8, John H. 
Mansfield; 1859-60, Wm. A. Braman ; 1861-2, 
Henry W. Warren ; 1863, William C. High ; 1864, 
A. McKeown; 1865,6. W. Gorham ; 1S66-7-8, 
R.W.Allen; 1869-70-1, John C. Smith: 1872- 
3-4, D. C. Knowles; 1875-6-7, Daniel Steele; 
1878-9, David Sherman. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized March 17, 1816, with 
a membership of twenty-five persons, a majority of 



4IO SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

whom came by letter from the church in Salem. 
Not one of this number is now living. 

The first house used by this society was the old 
Methodist church, which stood till 1812 at the east 
end of the Common, directly in front of the spot 
upon which the second church was built in the 
above-named year. It was purchased by Jonathan 
Bacheller, and moved to a lot situated a few rods 
east of the residence of Mark Healey. It was 
occupied by the society till the close of 1832. The 
second structure was upon the site of the present 
church. It was dedicated in February, 1833. Its 
cost was something less than $6,000, and contained 
four hundred and eight}' sittings. It w^as removed 
in the summer of 1866. The present edifice was 
begun in August of the same year, and was dedi- 
cated in June, 1867. It cost $30,000, and its seat- 
ing capacity was about seven hundred. It was en- 
larged in 1869 at a cost of $6,000. After this en- 
largement it w^ould accommodate about one thou- 
sand persons. A tornado, on the 8th of September 
of the same year, wrenched off the spire, and other- 
wise damaged the building to the amount of $7,000 ; 
so that the entire cost was estimated at about 
$50,000. 

The church has had eleven pastors : George 
Phippen, from March, 1816, to August, 1818 ; 
Ebenezer Nelson, Jr., from July, 1820, to August, 
1827 : Daniel Chessman, from January, 1830, to 




KIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, LYNX, MASS. 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 



411 



May, 1833 : Lucius S. Bolles, from November, 
1833, to October, 1836; Joel S. Bacon, from Octo- 
ber, 1837, to December, 1839; Hiram A. Graves, 
from Februar}', 1840, to July, 1842 ; Thomas 
Driver, from April, 1843, to March, 1847 ; William 
C. Richards, from May, 1849, ^'^ August, 1864 ; 
Thomas E. Vassar, from February, 1865, to No- 
vember, 1872 ; John B. Brackett, from April, 
1873, to February, 1878 ; Norman C. Mallory, from 
December, 1878, and remains the present (18S0) 
pastor. 

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL (UNITARIAN) 
CHURCH. 

The Second Congregational Society was organ- 
ized April 5, 1822, by the choice of William Chad- 
well, Moderator; James Homer, Secretary, and 
William Chadwell, Samuel Brimblecom and Henry 
A. Breed, as Standing Committee. An act of in- 
corporation was obtained, and a lot on South Com- 
mon street — the present site — was soon after 
secured for a church. The corner stone was laid 
on the 5th of November. The ceremonies were 
conducted by Rev. Henry Coleman, and Rev. 
Joseph Tuckerman delivered the address. On tiie 
30th of April, 1823, the house was dedicated, Rev. 
Mr. Coleman preaching the sermon. James D. 



412 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



Green was the first minister. He was ordained 
November 3, 1824. 

A few years after, a Sunday School was estab- 
lished, mainly through the efforts of Dr. Edward 
Coffin — assisted by two or three young ladies. 
Amos Rhodes afterward rendered great service 
in the school as teacher, superintendent and libra- 
rian. In 1828 Mr. Green resifjned his charge. 
David H. Barlow was the next pastor. He was 
ordained December 9, 1829, and remained until 
February 2, 1833. 

In the Fall of the same year Samuel D. Robbins 
accepted the pastorate, and his ordination took 
place November 3. Mr. Robbins took great in- 
terest in our public schools. In a letter he after- 
ward wrote to friends in Lynn, he says: "I think 
I wrote the first printed report sent from Lynn to 
the State." Mr. Robbins resigned in 1839, ^"^ 
William Gray Swett was invited to become the 
pastor of the society. He accepted, and was in- 
stalled January i, 1840. Mr. Swett was a great 
favorite, and the society flourished under his care ; 
but his health failed him, and after a pastorate of 
three years, he died February 15, 1843. Mr. 
Sw^ett was the grandson of the well-known William 
Gray — commonly called Billy Gray — a native of 
Lynn. 

The next pastor was John Pierpont, Jr., who was 
ordained October 11, 1S43. An incident worth 



CHURCHES OF LYXN. 413 

mentioning is recorded of this ordination. The 
venerable Dr. Pierce, of Brookline, was present, 
who remarked that "' this was the ninety-fourth ordi- 
nation that he had attended, and it was the first one 
where intoxicating drinks were not used ; and the 
first ordination dinner at whicli ladies were present." 
Mr. Pierpont resigned April 29, 1846, on account of 
ill health. 

Charles C. Shackford was Mr. Pierpont's suc- 
cessor. He was installed December 6, 1846. Mr. 
Shackford's pastorate extended through nearly 
eighteen years, and he was so well known, not only 
to the present generation of his fellow citizens in 
this city, but elsewhere, that an omission to recog- 
nize his talents and services would hardly be justi- 
fied. He was specially devoted to the interests of 
our public schools, and was several times Chairman 
of the Board of School Committee. With a few 
others, he was largely instrumental in establishing 
our High School : and in the broader field of public 
instruction, by lectures, by his labors to establish 
our Free Public Library, and by his interest in all 
educational and retbrm movements, our community 
has felt the influence of his cultured mind, and his 
generous, tolerant spirit. 

During his pastorate — in the summer of 1852 — 
the church edifice was enlarged and remodelled. 
In 1864 — April 25 — Mr. Shackford resigned his 



414 



SKETCHES OF LYNX. 



charge to accept the professorship of modern litera- 
ture in Cornell University. 

Rev. Samuel B. Stewart, the present pastor, was 
installed October 4, 1864, having had, with the ex- 
ception of his predecessor, the longest pastorate 
over the church since its organization. 

SOUTH STREET M. E. CHURCH. 

The South Street Methodist Episcopal Church 
was organized from the Common Street Church, 
August 23, 1830, embracing one hundred mem- 
bers — thirty-six males and sixty-four females. It 
was partly the result of a great religious awaken- 
ing the year before (1829) under the labors of Rev. 
Abraham D. Merrill, assisted by Rev. Charles 
Noble. 

The meeting house was erected in 1830. It was 
originall}^ a plain substantial edifice, without a 
steeple, with tw'o doors in front, and a vestibule 
running- the whole length of the house. Over this 
was the singing gallery, and between the entry 
doors, the pulpit. The house remained in this state 
until 185 1, when a steeple was built, which greatly 
added to its beauty. Afterw^ard, during the pas- 
torate of Rev. Sanford B. Sweetser, it was again 
remodeled and frescoed. At present it is one of 
the neatest church edifices in the city. 

The church has had the following pastors : 1830, 



CHURCHES OF LYNN". 4I5 

Rufus Spaulding ; i83i,Selah Slockino- ; 1832-3, 
Isaac Bonny : 1834, Sanford Benton: 1835, Amos 
Binney ; 1836-7, Timothy Merritt ; 1838, Frederick 
P.Tracy; 1839-40, Mark Staples; 1841-2, Ed- 
mund M. Beebe ; 1843-4, John B. Husted ; 1845-6, 
Charles S. Macreading ; 1847-8, John Clark; 
1849, William Rice ; 1850, Simon Putman ; 185 1-2, 
George Dunbar ; 1853-4, Daniel Steele ; 1855-6, 
Isaac Smith ; 1857-8, Fales H. Newhall ; 1859-60, 
Jeremiah L. Hannaford ; 1861-2, Daniel Richards ; 
1863-4, Samuel Kelley ; 1865-6, Solomon Chapin ; 
1867-8-9, Sanford B. Sweetser ; 1870-1, Edward A. 
Manning; 1872-3, William H. Hatch ; 1874-5-6, 
George F. Eaton; 1877-8-9, Varnum A. Cooper; 
present pastor, Alfred A. Wright. 

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. 

Universalism was tirst preached in Lynn b}- the 
Rev. Edwin Turner, then of Salem, in the year 
181 1. In 1818 Rev. Joshua Flagg jnxached in the 
Lynn Academy, on South Common street, near 
Vine street. There is no record of any other move- 
ment in this direction until 1831, when Rev. Syl- 
vanus Cobb, of Maiden, preached a few times, on 
alternate Sunday evenings, at Swampscott. 

These services created much interest, and after a 
few Sundays' preaching in Swampscott the meet- 
ings were held in Woodend, where a series of lee- 



4l6 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

tures, on alternate Sunday evenings, were delivered. 
This resulted in the formation of a society, the settle- 
ment of a pastor, and the establishment of regular 
meetings every Sabbath at the Town Hall. 

The First Universalist Society was organized 
March 25, 1833, in the Town Hall. George Todd 
was chosen Moderator, and James M. Sargent, 
Clerk. The Rev. Josiah C. Waldo was engaged as 
pastor. In 1835 the society built a church on Union 
street — near Silsbee street — which was dedicated 
December 10. The dedicatory sermon was preached 
by the Rev. Thomas F. King — father of the late 
Thomas Starr King — of Charlestown. In the 
afternoon Rev. J. C. Waldo was installed as pastor, 
and remained with the society until 1838. On the 
15th of May, 1839, t^^ Rev. Lemuel Willis was 
installed as his successor. Mr. Willis remained 
with the society till September, 1842. Rev. Hor- 
ace G. Smith, of Berlin, Conn., the next pastor, 
was installed May 18, 1843. He remained until 
February, 1844. Rev. Merritt Sanford was the 
next pastor. He began his labors January 19, 
1845, and remained until the summer of 1848. 
Rev. Darwin Mott took charge of the societ}' 
in July, 1848. Installed July 23. He resigned 
after a pastorate of two years. 

In the summer of 1850 the meeting house was 
enlarged, and re-dedicated August 26. The Rev. 
Elbridge G. Brooks was next installed as pastor, 




FIRST UXIVERSALIST CHrRCH. LYNX. MASS. 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 4I7 

November. 1850, and remained in charge of the 
society until October 30, 1859. Rev. Sumner Ellis 
next took charge of the society March 13, i860. 
Installed June 13. He remained until August, 
1862. 

Rev. Charles Weslev Biddle, of Newark, New 
Tersev, next took charge of the societv December, 
1862, and was installed February 5, 1863. Near 
the close of the year the church was remodeled, 
and re-dedicated March, 1864. 

The corner stone of the Nahant street church 
was laid May 27, 1872, The church was dedicated 
September 18, 1873. The dedicatory sermon was 
preached by the Rev. Elbridge G. Brooks. The 
cost of the church and site was $140,000. It 
is one of the finest church structures in New Eng- 
land. 

The old church was sold to the East Baptist 
Society. Both societies worshipped here until the 
new church on Nahant street was dedicated. 

In January, 1880, Mr. Biddle resigned his 
charge, and John C. Adams accepted a call from 
the societ}'. 

The Sunday School of this church was organized 
about 1833. Edwin Thompson was chosen its first 
superintendent, and held the office about two years. 
At the present time the Sunday School is the largest 
in the denomination, numbering upward of seven 
hundred. 

53 



41 8 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



ST. STEPHENS CHURCH. 

In 1819 a few persons attempted the formation of 
an Episcopal Church in Lynn. Their meetings 
were held in the Academy for about two years ; 
most of the time under the pastoral care of the 
Rev. Asa Eaton, D. D., of Boston. The difficulty in 
obtaining clerical supplies — and other obstacles — 
led to a discontinuance of the service. No further 
attempt to establish the Episcopal Church was made 
here until 1834. One or two persons of that belief 
attended church in Salem or Marblehead. This 
circumstance attracting the attention of parties in- 
terested, led to the offer from Bishop Griswold to 
supply the people here for a time — if a place of 
meeting could be obtained. The offer was accepted, 
and a meeting called. In October, 1834, ^"^^ 
gentlemen, viz. : Edward S. Davis, John Bowler, 
Alonzo Lewis, Richard A. Fleming, and James 
Whittaker, met and resolved themselves into a com- 
mittee for the purpose of sustaining public worship 
according to the rites and usages of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church. 

Their first service was held in the First Methodist 
Church, at which the Rev. William H. Lewis, of 
Marblehead, officiated; the second at the Town 
Hall, the Rev. John A. Vaughan, of Salem, offici- 
ating ; the third at the Lynn Academy — all before 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 4I9 

the close of 1S34. Regular service was begun on 
the first Sunday in January, 1835, ^^ Liberty Hall, 
and continued with little interruption to nearly the 
end of the year, being served b}- various clergy- 
men, as they could be obtained, when the place of 
worship was removed to what had been Masonic 
Hall, which was fitted up for their use. 

In January, 1836, the Rev. Milton Ward, M. D., 
became the first minister, and the church was regu- 
larly organized under the name of Christ Church, 
Lynn, its officers chosen, and a church edifice 
was erected during the year. It was built on North 
Common street, nearly opposite Church street. It 
was consecrated July 20, 1837. In consequence of 
the burning of Masonic Hall the Church was occu- 
pied some weeks before consecration. Mr. Wlard 
remained until March, 1837, when the Rev. George 
Waters took his place. He remained until October, 
1839, ^^"''^^ "^'^'^s succeeded by the Rev. F. W. I. 
Pollard, who resigned after one year's service, 
William A. White, a candidate for orders, acting 
as lay reader until 1841, when the difficulty of ob- 
taining a clergyman, and also in securing funds, 
led the Missionary Association, by w^hom the 
clergyman was partly supported, to suspend the 
services for a time, although the organization was 
kept up. 

Efforts were made to resuscitate the church which 
w^ere not successful until 1844, when several indi- 



420 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

viduals, who had lately become residents of the 
town, joining w^ith those who were left of the former 
church, thought best to reorganize under another 
name, and from September 20, 1844, this organi- 
zation has been known as St. Stephen's Church, 
Lynn. The church edifice built in 1837 was bought 
by the new organization. The names of the corpo- 
rators were, Edward S. Davis, William H. Hub- 
bard, Robert Farley, George M. Dexter, Edward 
D. Peters, Benjamin T. Reed, Edward S. Rand, 
William Foster Otis, Edward Codman, Robert 
Appleton and J. C. Brodhead. Services were 
immediately commenced. The Rev. George D. 
Wildes was rector from December, 1844, to Sep- 
tember, 1845 ; Rev. Isaac W. Hallam, from Feb- 
ruary, 1846, to April, i860; Rev. E. H. True, 
from June, i860, to April, 1863 ; Rev. George S. 
Paine, from July, 1863, to July, 1864 ; Rev. Gordon 
M. Bradley, from January, 1865, to December, 
1867 ; Rev. Benjamin W. Attwell, from April, 
1868, to December, 1869 ; Rev. Edward L. Drown, 
from July, 1870, to July, 1875, ^"d Rev. Louis 
DeCormis became rector in January, 1876, who is 
now in charge. 

A new and stately edifice for this church is now 
in process of erection, for w'hich the church is 
indebted to the liberality of Enoch R. Mudge, who 
builds it as a memorial to his departed children. 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 42 1 

It will, doubtless, be one of the finest churches in 
the city- 

ST. Mary's church. 

In the year 1835 ^^^^ Rev. Mr. Wiley, who was 
located in Salem, finding that there were some 
Catholics in Lynn, had them meet together for 
divine service and instruction at the house of 
Lawrence Birne}' — at that time called the Castle — 
and mass was said for the first time in Lynn at that 
place. It still stands on the corner of Water Hill 
and May streets. 

From that time mass was said there, or at Michael 
McMann's, on Boston street, or at Peter Murphy's, 
on Church street, down to 18-45. In those days, 
as the Catholics were much scattered, and priests 
very few, divine service and instruction was only 
monthly, or at such times as would be convenient. 
Rev. Mr. W^iley was succeeded by Rev. J. Brady, 
who in turn was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Strain. 
After him came Rev. Dr. O'Flagherty, who, in 
1845, made application for the Town House, which 
then stood at the head of Blossom street. The 
selectmen granted the use of the Town Hall free of 
cost. Benjamin Mudge uas the chairman, and the 
Catholics, to this day, recollect with pride the kind- 
ness then shown to them. Rev. Dr. O'Flagherty 
was followed by Rev. J. Byrnes, Rev. Mr. Kidigan, 



422 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

and Rev. J. O'Brien. Yet all this time — for some 
thirteen years — no effort was made for the estab- 
lishment of a church. But this was due to the 
necessities of other places where Catholics were 
more numerous, and requirements of churches more 
needed. It was in the year 1848 that Rev. Charles 
Smith was appointed to the charge of Chelsea and 
Lynn. He secured the little school house near 
the Arcade, by the residence of Mark Healey, and 
fitted it up for church purposes. He was succeeded 
in January, 185 1, b}'- Rev. P. Strain, the present 
rector of St. Mary's Church, who, in the year 1854, 
enlarged the church. This church was burned on 
the night of the 28th of May, 1859, ^"^ '^'^'^^ the 
work of an incendiary. The old Lyceum Hall, 
which stood on the corner of Summer and Market 
streets, was then used for Catholic services until the 
year 1861, at which time the present St. Mar^'-'s 
Church edifice was built. This was the finest 
church structure in Lynn at that time. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

This church was organized November 5, 1835. 
The first church was built in 1835, on the south 
side of Silsbee street, next to the railroad bridge. 
It was occupied but a short time by the society. In 
1840 the present church was built — nearly oppo- 
site — and dedicated. During the present year 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 423 

(1880) a tower has been added, tlie structure par- 
tially remodeled, and otherwise improved. 

The following pastors have served the society : 

1835, Philemon R. Russell; 1841, Josiah Knight; 
1842, David Knowlton ; 1842, Elihu Noyes ; 1843, 
Warren Lincoln; 1851, Nicholas S. Chadwick ; 
1853, Seth Hinckley : 1854, William Miller ; i860, 
John Burden ; 1862, Joseph Whitney ; 1862, John O. 
Goss to 1869 ; H. C. Guilford and J. W. Larry, 1869 ; 
A.J.Hancock, 1870; J. W. Larry, 1870; Charles 
T. Camps, 1871 ; William Haight, 1872; Charles 
T. Camps, 1873 5 Mrs. Gustin, 1874. Pulpit sup- 
plies for the year ending June, 1876 — D. L. Crafts, 
1876 ; W. W. Williams, 1877, and is now the pastor. 

SECOND UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. 

The Second Universalist was organized March 9, 

1836. March 26, 1837, Rev. Dunbar B. Harris 
was chosen to preach every alternate Sabbath. On 
the 2d of October, 1838, the society was reorgan- 
ized, and Rev. William H. Taylor chosen to preach 
tor three months. On the 13th of March, 1839, 
voted to purchase the church (formerly the Old 
Tunnel) which had been owned and used by the 
Christian Baptist Society. 

In 1869 the church was remodeled and thoroughly 
repaired. The following is the list of pastors : May 
19, 1839, Rev. E. N. Harris chosen pastor ; May 



424 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

3, 1840, Rev. Henry Jewell; December 25, 1842, 
Rev. John Nichols; July 27, 1845, Rev. O. H. 
Tillotson ; 1848, Rev. John Moore; February 17, 
1850, Rev. J. R. Johnson ; June 13, 1852, Rev. E. 
W. Reynolds; April 22, 1855, Rev. Henry Jewell, 
second time ; 1859, Rev. W. P. Payne ; March 15, 
1863, Rev. N. R. Wright; November 14, 1869, 
Rev. G. W. Payne; 1873, Rev. E. A. Drew, died 
October, 1874; March, 1875, Rev. Q^ H. Shinn ; 
October, 1877, Rev. Richard Eddy, D. D., chosen 
to supply for one year ; 1879, Rev. F. M. Hough- 
ton engaged to supply, and he has charge of the 
society at the present time, (1880.) 

THIRD BAPTIST SOCIETY \VYOMA. 

In the autumn of 1858 the citizens of Wyoma 
held preliminary meetings for the purpose of form- 
ing themselves into a religious society. The organ- 
ization was legally effected October 27, 1858, with 
John C. Blaney, Moderator. The name assumed 
was the Third Baptist Society. The officers were 
a Moderator, Treasurer, Collector, Assessor and 
five standing committees. Measures were imme- 
diately taken to secure a lot of land upon which to 
erect a church edifice, and solicit funds for the 
house. The land was given and deeded to the 
society by Upton J. Peabody. The house was 
erected on the north side of Boston street, a few 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 425 

rods east of the square, and dedicated in i860. 
Great credit is due to the hite J. C. Bacheller 
for the liberal support which he gave to this enter- 
prise. He contributed largely to its funds, and 
while a resident of Wyoma manifested a commend- 
able interest in its prosperity. 

The Sunday School was organized and sustained 
as a mission interest, largely through the efficient 
labors of John C. Blaney. In 1859 i^ ^^'^s united 
to the Salem Baptist Sunday School Convention. 

The church was organized June 18, 1861, under 
the auspices of Rev. W. C. Richards, then pastor 
of the First Baptist Church, of Lynn, with eight 
constituent members who were dismissed from the 
First Church. The church was publicly recognized 
as a Baptist church by ten Baptist churches of the 
Salem Association, December 27, 1861. 

The following pastors have served the church : 
Rev. C. H. Cole, 1861 to 1864 ; Rev. J. P. Farrar, 
1865 to 1867 ; Rev. W. P. Elsdon, 1868 to 1869 ; 
Rev. C. H. Cole, 1870 to 1874 ? R^v. C. C. Bur- 
roughs, 1874 ^o 1876. Since the last date the 
church has been served by supplies. 

THE CENTRAL CHURCH. 

A small beginning of the religious work out of 
which the Central Church ultimately grew, was 
made as early as the year 1847, when a Sabbath 
54 



426 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

School, numbering about a dozen scholars, was 
gathered in a private school room connected 
with the residence of the late Isaiah Breed, on 
Broad street. This little Sunday School, soon out- 
growing their accommodations, was moved, first to 
the Friends' school house on Silsbee street, then to 
a school house on Newhall street, which had been 
formerly a railroad depot, and finally back to Silsbee 
street, to the old Freewill Baptist Chapel. This Sun- 
day School was the original nucleus around which 
the Central Church and society were formed. In con- 
junction with the Sabbath School, occasional preach- 
ing services were held in the evening. Parsons 
Cooke, of the First Church, generally officiating. 

For the better accommodation of the growing 
numbers that came to these services, the old chapel, 
above referred to, was purchased in the Spring of 
1849 of the society of Freewill Baptists, then about 
disbanding, moved on to the ground where the 
present church edifice stands, and fitted up for a 
place of worship. The Sabbath School and the 
congregation so rapidly increased that in the au- 
tumn of 1849 it was thought best that some one 
should be permanently employed to serve as pastor. 
Rev. A. R. Baker, of West Needham, now Welles- 
ley, was engaged for three months, with a view to 
determining whether a permanent ministry could 
be sustained. The chapel was soon found to be 
too small for the people who attended there ; and 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 



427 



the project of building a larfrer and more suitable 
place of worship was at once begun. 

The Society was organized under the name of 
the Central Congregational Society on the 13th of 
May, 1850, by the choice of Oliver B. Coolidge as 
clerk, and a Parish committee consisting of Isaiah 
Breed, Joshua Patch, Samuel M, Bubier, William 
Boynton, James Patch, J. E. F. Marsh, Bartlett B. 
Breed and Edwin Patch. Isaiah Breed irave the 
lot on Silsbee street, the present site of the church. 
Mr. Breed also gave generously for the erection of 
the building, as did also Samuel M. Bubier. Joined 
with these were Joshua Patch, William Boynton, 
and others. 

Through their energy and liberality an elegant 
structure of wood was erected, and dedicated De- 
cember II, 1S50. The cost, including the furnish- 
ing, was about $14,000. 

On the day of dedication the Central Church was 
formally organized by an Ecclesiastical Council 
convoked for the purpose, and Rev. A. R. Baker 
took charge of the society. 

Thirty-six persons, according to the church rec- 
ord, constituted the original church. Mr. Baker, 
who was not formally installed until a year later, 
remained pastor until August 15, 1854. ^^^ ^^^^~ 
cessor was Rev. J. B. Sewall, who was installed 
Februar}' 28, 1855. Mr. Sewall's ministry with 
the church continued until the close of 1864, when, 



428 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

having been elected Professor of Ancient Lan- 
guages in Bowdoin College, he resigned. 

Near the close of his pastorate it was found neces- 
sary to enlarge and partially rebuild the church — 
which was done at such a liberal expense ($18,000) 
that it was made one of the most tasteful, commo- 
dious and attractive churches in the city. It was 
re-dedicated in the Fall of 1864. The sermon was 
preached by its retiring pastor. Mr. Sewall was 
succeeded, with only a brief interval, by Rev. A. 
H. Currier, installed May 17, 1865. Mr. Currier 
had been settled over the Society but little more 
than a year, when the church edifice was destro3'ed 
by fire, September 9, 1866. The Society set at 
once upon the work of rebuilding, and by the en- 
ergy and munificence of its members the present 
structure of brick and stone, surpassing the one lost 
in size and convenience, was completed at a cost of 
upward of $40,000, and dedicated June 17, 1868. 
Mr. Currier is still the pastor of this church. 

BOSTON STREET M. E. CHURCH. 

The beginning of the movement to establish this 
society was in 1850, James Pool, Jr., being chief 
among the leaders in this work. It was finally 
decided to build a church on Boston street, and in 
1852 a lot was purchased. 

The new society was organized May 20, 1853. 



CHURCHES OF I.VNX. 429 

Loranus Crowell was the first pastor. The original 
members were from the First Methodist and South 
Street churches. 

In the spring of 1853 the church was begun and 
completed, and on the 9th of June it was dedicated, 
the sermon being preached by Rev. Miner Ray- 
mond. 

A Sunday School was at once organized, with 
James Pool, Jr., as Superintendent. Soon after an 
organ was bought, and a parsonage secured. In 
1859 '^^ addition of twenty feet was made to the 
church : and in 1870 other alterations, making room 
for the organ in the rear. 

The following is the list of pastors : Loranus 
Crowell, 1853 ; Isaac S. Cushman, 1854-5 ' E. A. 
Manning, 1856-7; H. E. Hempstead, 1858-9; 
Aaron D. Sargeant, 1860-1 ; C. L. McCurdy, 1862 ; 
A. F. Herrick, 1863-4 ; Frederick Woods, 1865- 
6-7 ; no settled pastor in 1868 ; John W. Lindsay, 
1869-70-1 ; George Whitaker, 1872 ; Angelo 
Canoll, 1873-4 5 Charles S. Rogers, 1875-6-7 ; 
Charles N. Smith, 1878-9-80. 

THE MAPLE STREET METHODIST SOCIETY. 

Organized on the first Sunday in March, 185 1, 
by Amos Benney, Presiding Elder of the Charles- 
town district. Religious services, in connection 
with a Sunday School, had, however, been held in 



430 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

the neighborhood since 1829. In the latter part of 
the year 1850 the building now known as the "Old 
Chapel " was purchased of the New Central Con- 
gregational Society, then worshipping in Silsbee 
street, and removed to Maple street, being drawn 
by oxen through Union and Chestnut streets, to its 
present location. 

As this little chapel has a " history " as serving 
the need of several religious societies in the day of 
small things, and as it has traveled more miles, and 
presented its fr(5nt more ways than any building 
known among us, a brief sketch of its checkered 
experiences is here given. 

The first use of this building was as a pottery 
establishment in South Danvers. It was subse- 
quently bought by the South Danvers Methodist 
Society, and used by them till they purchased the 
old Congregational house of worship, when the 
Freewill Baptist Society of this city bought it and 
removed it to Lynn, to the corner of Summer and 
Pleasant streets. This society finally vacated it, 
when the New Central Orthodox Society obtained 
it. Under the auspices of the Maple Street Society 
the house was opened for public services December 
27, 1850, the sermon being preached by the Rev. 
John W. Lindsay. 

In the month of October following, it was found 
necessary to enlarge the edifice to accommodate 
the people. This was done by opening the build- 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 43I 

ing at the ridge-pole and widening as ^^'ell as 
lengthening it, thereby doubling its seating capac- 
ity, and affording sittings for two hundred and 
fifty people. In this form it was occupied till the 
completion of the vestry of the new edifice in 1872. 
This old chapel was bought by the society for $400, 
and the site it occupies was obtained for $18, one- 
third of its value, the other two-thirds beinsf given 
by Mrs. Betsey Batchelder, of Marblehead. 

The new church, located on the corner of Chest- 
nut and Maple streets, was begun in the spring of 
1871, and was dedicated February 15, 1872. It 
has sittings for one thousand, including both ves- 
tries, and cost some $27,000. The main audi- 
torium will seat six hundred persons. 

The following pastors have served the society : 
1851, Mark Staples ; 1852, Daniel Richards ; 1854, 
Abraham D. Merrill ; 1856, How^ard C. Dunham ; 
1858, Oliver S. Howe; 1859, J^rvis A. Ames ; 
1861, Abraham M. Osgood; 1863, John S. Day; 
1865, Nathan D. George ; 1866-7, Ichabod Marcy ; 
1869, Franklin G. Morris; 1870-1-2, John A. 
Lansing ; 1873-4, Albert Gould ; 1875-6, Garrett 
C. Beekman ; 1877, Loranus Crowell ; 1878-9-80, 
Edward A. Manning, the present incumbent. 

THE WASHINGTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The rapid increase of population in the eastern 



43^ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

part of the city was thought to necessitate the form- 
ation of a new Baptist Society for the better accom- 
modation of those in that section. Accordingly 
preaching was begun and a Sunday School w^as 
established in 185 1, in Union Hall, a small hall 
over a grocer}^ store on Union street. " Seven 
brethren," the clerk notes in his record, " agreed to 
support, with what aid they could obtain from others, 
a Baptist meeting in this part of the city." These 
seven were, Amos Lewis, Amos Austin, George 
K. Pevear, Thomas Roberts, J. C. Blane}', Henr}' 
A. Pevear and C. A. York. These seven persons 
afterward constituted the legal organization of the 
Second Baptist Society of Lynn. 

In October, 1852, Rev. J. H. Tilton was invited 
to become the pastor. In 1854 ^ council, duly con- 
vened, recognized thirty-nine persons, seven men 
and thirty-two women, as the Second Baptist 
Church of Lynn. In 1858 the church on High 
street was built, and on the 7th of October of the 
same year the church was dedicated. Rev. Alfred 
Owen was installed as pastor on the evening of the 
same day. Mr. Owen resigned his pastorate Jan- 
uary, 1867, and in May, Rev. J. S. Holmes ac- 
cepted a call of the church, and was ordained June 
18. During his ministry a Sunday School was 
organized in Swampscott, and in 1872 fifteen with- 
drew to form the Baptist church in that town. In 
the same year a Mission School was organized in 




WASHINGTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, LYNN. MASS. 



CHURCHES OF LYNN. 433 

Providence Hall, Ward Three, and prayer meet- 
ings and preaching services were held. The 
church on High street, having outgrown its accom- 
modations, the fine edifice on the corner of Wash- 
ington and Essex streets was begun in 1873, and 
dedicated June, 1874. While the new church was 
in course of erection ninety members withdrew to 
form the East Baptist Church, and most of the 
Providence Hall school, numbering one hundred 
and fifty teachers and scholars, joined the Sunday 
School of the new society. The church from this 
time was known as the Washington Street Baptist 
Church. In May, 1874, ^^- Holmes closed his 
pastorate, and in February, 1875, Rev. D. W. 
Faunce accepted the call of the church, and is now 
its pastor. 

CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH. 

This society was organized February 16, 1857. 
Its first meetings were held in Brimblecom Hall, 
corner of Lewis and Breed streets. The Rev. 
Daniel L. Gear was the first minister. The church 
was built in 1857, and dedicated January i, 1858. 
Mr. Gear remained till i860, and was succeeded by 
the Rev. John Moore, who was pastor until 1864. 
He was followed by Edwin Smith, who remained 
till 1870. Webster Patterson was the next pastor. 
He remained until his death, in 1874. Willard A. 
55 



434 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Spaulding was the next pastor, serving until 1879. 
John T. Blades took charge of the society June, 
1879, ^"^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ pastor. 

THE NOELTH CHURCH. 

This church was organized by seventy-four mem- 
bers from the First Church, Lynn, May 6, 1869, 
and a call extended to Rev. James M. Whiton on the 
i8th. After occupying temporary places of wor- 
ship for awhile, the society built the present church 
on Laighton street. Its dimensions are forty-five 
feet by eighty. It was dedicated January 15, 1871. 
Mr. Whiton was installed the first pastor February 
13, 1872. His pastorate closed March 14, 1875. 
James L. Hill was Mr. Whiton's successor. He 
began his labors in June, 1875, ^"*^ ^s still (1880) 
the pastor. 

FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The Union Street Freewill Baptist Church was 
organized September 7, 187 1, with thirty-two mem- 
bers. Rev. J. Burnham Davis was installed as 
pastor on the 8th, and after about one year of suc- 
cessful ministry resigned and went to another field. 
In April, 1874, Rev. A. J. Kirkland was elected 
pastor, and satisfactorily served the church till his 
resignation in September, 1875. ^^ February, 



CHURCHES OF I.YNN. 435 

1876, Rev. H. S. Kimball was called to the pastor- 
ate, but at the expiration of a year resigned on ac- 
count of ill health. The present pastor, Rev. A. 
P. Tracy, came to the church July i, 1877. 

In 1876 the society sold its house of worship on 
Union street, and in 1877 purchased that on High 
street. There they began to worship in June, 1877. 
Before taking full possession of the property, the 
church was re-organized, becoming a corporate 
body, under the name of High Street Freewill 
Baptist Church. Forty-one have been added to 
the church since July i, 1877, and its present num- 
ber is one hundred and thirty-one. It has a grow- 
ing congregation, and a Sabbath School number- 
ing over two hundred. 

THE EAST OR FOURTH BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

This church was organized April 21, 1874, ^^ 
which time seventy-five persons presented letters of 
dismission and recommendation, sixty-four of whom 
were from the High Street Church, Lynn. A call 
was extended to the Rev. John S. Holmes to be- 
come their pastor. The name of the church, and 
the church covenant, were adopted April 24. The 
first public service was held April 26. The Sab- 
bath School was organized at the close of this ser- 
• vice, with an attendance of sixty-six. 

On the 5th of May, 1874, ^^ ^^^ voted to call a 



436 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

council of the churches comprising the Salem Bap- 
tist Association, together with the Baptist churches 
in West Bridgewater and South Boston, for the 
purpose of recognizing the society as an independ- 
ent Baptist church, and on the 14th of May the 
council met and passed the vote of recognition, and 
on the 19th the public service of recognition took 
place, the Rev. Wayland Hoyt preaching the ser- 
mon. On the 5th of July Rev. John S. Holmes ac- 
cepted the call extended to him, and entered upon 
the duties of pastor. 

On the nth of October it was voted to purchase 
the church property of the Free Baptist Society on 
Union street, conditionally, and on the ist of No- 
vember, 1875, it was voted to purchase the property 
at a cost of $18,000. 

On the 7th of July, 1875, Mr. Holmes resigned 
his charge. On the nth of August, 1878, Rev. 
Henry Hinckley, of Cambridgeport, accepted a call 
of the society, and is still (1880) the pastor. 

TRINITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

This church was organized May 7, 1873, under 
the labors of Rev. Alonzo Sanderson, who was ap- 
pointed to the then "Tower Hill Mission" by Bishop 
Wiley, at the session of the New England Con- 
ference held in Lynn that year. Previous to this 
time this field was occupied by the First Congre- 



( 




ST. JOSEPH'S CCATHOLIC) CHURCH, LYNN, MASS. 



CHURCHES OF I.YNN. 437 

gational Society as a mission, chiefly under the 
care of Rev. Mr. Plohnes. The society held its 
first meetings in the little chapel — near the site of 
the present church — before occupied by the " Mis- 
sion " society. 

During the first year of Mr. Sanderson's pastor- 
ate the society began to build the present church 
near the corner of Boston and Ashland streets. It was 
dedicated February, 1874. ^^^'- Sanderson is still 
the pastor, after an unusual service of nearly seven 
years. 

The church has a membership of over one hund- 
red, and a Sunday School of over one hundred 
and fiftv. 



ST. JOSEPHS CHURCH. 

St. Joseph's Church, Union street, was built in 
1875. The Parish having been formed in June, 
1874, and Rev. J. C. Harrington appointed pastor. 
The census of this Parish showed that there were 
two thousand five 1 ndred Catholics within this 
district, including * .ose in Swampscott. Divine 
services were first conducted in the Christian 
church on Silsbee street. The corner stone of the 
new church was laid July 4, 1875, ^^^ services 
were held in the vestry on the following Christmas. 

The church, when finished, will be one of the 
finest in the city. It is seventy-four by one hund- 



438 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

red and forty-six feet, with a seating capacity of 
nine hundred in the basement, and one thousand 
two hundred in the auditorium of the church. It 
was designed by James Murphy, of Providence, 
R. I. The style is Gothic, with grained ceiHng, and 
will cost $75,000 when finished. There are six 
hundred children attending the Sunday School, 
directed by a Superintendent, Secretary and seventy 
teachers, with six hundred volumes in the Sunday 
School library. 

St. Joseph's Cemetery, Wyoma, belongs to this 
church, and was consecrated October i6th, by 
Archbishop Williams, assisted by several clergy- 
men. 

THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH. 

This church was organized in 1856, and their 
house — on Mailey street — was built in 1857. The 
following is the list of pastors : Joseph P. Turner, 
1857 ; Ebenezer Williams, 1858 ; Edward B. Davis, 
i860; William Chase, 1861 ; John Brown, 1864; 
Daniel Mason, 1865 ; Joseph S. Smith, 1866 ; Wil- 
liam W. Johnson, 1868 ; John T. Hayslett, 1869 ; 
William J. Laws, 1871 ; James H. Madison, 1873 ; 
Stephen V. Douglass, 1875 ; Perry L. Stanford, 
1877 ; Horace Talbot, 1879. 



BIOGRAPHIES 



ALONZO LEWIS. 



The following is intended simply as a sketch of 
the life of Alonzo Lewis. A more complete biog- 
raphy has been written by an appreciative friend — 
James R. Newhall — his successor in his historical 
labors. That biography appears in the last edition 
of the History of Lynn. The reader of this sketch 
will discover the ground of the writer's presumption 
in attempting to recall events, and to revive remin- 
iscences that will carry many now living back to 
the days of their childhood, and enable them to live 
over again scenes which, however brief in their 
duration, mankind cherish as the dearest treasures 
garnered in the storehouse of memory. The chief 
value of this record will be, that it is based upon the 
writer's personal knowledge of the man, and runs 
back to that period when, as children in school, we 
sustain to the teacher the nearest, and often the 
dearest, relation found beyond the domestic circle. 
The writer's recollection of Mr. Lewis dates back 
to the year 1833, soon after Mr. Lewis took charge 



440 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

of the gramrnar school in Ward Four. He had 
just pubhshed a new edition of his poems, and the 
writer remembers with what pride and satisfaction 
he received, as a member of the first class, a copy 
from the hands of the author. As a teacher, Mr. 
Lewis stood high, as the current testimony of those 
times shows, as well as the reports of school com- 
mittees through a series of years. Though not a 
collegiate, he had more learning than a half-dozen 
often met with laying claim to that distinction. But 
he had a higher qualification for this responsible 
trust than even this. He was a man of fine sensi- 
bilities ; and in those times, when flogging in school 
was the common order of things, he never indulged 
in it as a pastime. Often disgusted wath what 
seemed to him the too frequent occasions for corpo- 
ral punishment, he would announce to his pupils a 
determination to try the milder expedients of per- 
suasion, and an appeal to their sense of right. This 
w^ould be followed by the abolition of all the terri- 
fying emblems of authority. Accordingly, straps, 
sticks and rulers were burnt, or banished from the 
school-room until some exigency arose, some ex- 
ample of insubordination, or mutterings of threat- 
ened rebellion, when chronological difficulties stood 
in the way of a settlement by a lecture on ethics, 
or a reference to a court of arbitration. Then there 
was no time to take up the purely psychological 
aspects of the question at issue, or dilate upon the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 44I 

transcendent attractions of moral esthetics, and so a 
return to the old routine seemed inevitable. 

While Mr. Lewis had, doubtless, a love for his 
profession beyond that of most men, it must have 
been equally true that he found much that was 
irksome and repulsive in the dail}^ tasks set before 
him. His nervous, poetical temperament was keenly 
alive to the jarring discords of the school-room ; and 
the drudgery inevitable in a school such as he 
taught, must have been like heavy chains about his 
feet. Let us glance for a moment at a school-room 
in those days. A hundred pupils, more or less, 
ranging in age from eight to sixteen years, con- 
fined in a close, unpainted, ill-ventilated apart- 
ment, not large enough for one-half that number. 
Eight or ten are crowded upon a bench extending 
from the side of the building to the single aisle in 
the center, affording an excellent chance to skulk, 
to pinch one another, pull hair and carry on a 
miscellaneous conversation upon the current neW'S 
of the day. Goose-quills are to be made into pens 
for those who write, and pens are to be mended. 
There is but little classification of pupils, for the 
mixed-up condition of things admits of nothing more. 
A score or more of recitations, including the jerky 
and spasmodic efforts of the small boy reading his 
short sentences, and the most advanced learners 
struggling with the mysteries of algebraic symbols, 
and all between these extremes are to be heard 
56 



442 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

each day. And all this without the aid of any 
assistant to lighten his labors. It is not to be sup- 
posed that a man of his sensitive nature could re- 
main unmoved amid the petty annoyances too tri- 
fling to be noticed, but too aggravating to be borne 
without a struggle. It is still less likely that he 
could preserve the " soul's calm sunshine," when 
some juvenile rebel tore down the barriers of order, 
and possibly of decency, by committing an offence 
too heinous to be winked out of sight. 

Poetry and fiction furnish us with some example-s 
of men who have reached sublime heights of self- 
control and serene equanimity of temper. Blow 
high or blow low ; let the weather be of any sort 
ever known in moral meteorology, no matter, there 
they are. But these, for the most part, never kept 
school. Most of the romance writers were, and 
are, too wise to include a case like that, and so 
Mr. Lewis, tried beyond human endurance, would 
occasionally flog a boy. The writer does not wish 
to lay any stress upon the fact that he was taught 
and thrashed by the most talented man in town — 
the teaching largel}^ predominating over the thrashr 
ings. The problem has been suggested to his mind, 
but with no attempt at solution, whether the scales 
would n't have turned the other way had the teacher, 
looking down the vista of time, foreseen his pupil at 
work upon this record, walking with a feeble gait, 
and at an immeasurable distance behind his master 



BIOGRAPHIES. 443 

in his endeavors to revive and keep alive something 
worthy to make part of the history of Lynn. He 
has nothing to complain of in the administration of 
Mr. Lewis, and only regrets that, as he had an 
early " call " to go to " work," he could not remain 
to reap the benefits of a tuition such as a teacher so 
gifted as his could impart. 

It is not surprising, then, that under the extreme 
trials which are the lot, in some degree, of every 
teacher — but which in those days were experienced 
in a much higher degree — Mr. Lewis was not 
always serene. He had certain constitutional traits 
and peculiarities of temperament, for which he was 
no more responsible than for the color of his hair, 
or the size of his foot. These, to some extent, 
doubtless, tinged the stream of his existence ; but, 
for the most part, they were only ripples upon its 
surface, disturbing its even flow for a while, but no 
more determining its course or measuring its volume 
than the drift-wood floating on the river gauges the 
value of the commerce it bears to the sea. 

But even those who are disposed to take the most 
rose-colored view of this picture of early times, will 
hardly claim that the atmosphere of such a school- 
room was ethereal enough, whether considered as 
a material medium or a moral force, to float the 
delicate music from a poet's lyre, or inspire the 
imagination to ascend Alpine heights of song. 
But when the arduous and often tormentincr labor 



444 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

of the day was over, Mr. Lewis did refresh his 
tired spirits as he listened to the music of the sea 
he loved so well, or, as a night watcher and wor- 
shiper among the "templed hills," caught "glimpses 
that made him less forlorn " and melted earth's 
heaviest fetters in the crucible of a poet's fancy. 
Health and manly vigor and high hopes of the 
future were his invincible allies, inspiring him with 
courage to w^ork and w^ait ; and so he girded him- 
self and went forward. In spite of the drudgery of 
his daily toil, these were, doubtless, the happiest 
days of his life. 

Mr. Lewds left his profession as teacher in 1835, 
having taught in our public schools some twelve 
years. He first taught (in 1823) the grammar 
school in Ward Five, afterward one of the same 
grade in Ward Three, and lastly the school in Ward 
Four. It is a remarkable fact that during these 
years of arduous school labor he did a large part of 
the literary work of his life. His first volume of 
poems appeared in 1823. This volume contained 
some of his juvenile productions, a few of them 
written as early as 1810. Six editions of his poems, 
with revisions and additions, w^ere subsequently 
published, and gained for their author a wide repu- 
tation. 

Mr. Lewis must have been one of the most indus- 
trious of men. As one looks at the literary w^ork 
which he had accomplished even at this early age. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 445 

and this, too, in spite ot" the exacting demands and 
harassing cares of a most exhausting profession, 
he will lind an illustration of the tiaith of Buffon's 
definition of genius — ability to work. In 1829 he 
published the first edition of the History of Lvnn in 
numbers, a work costing him years of patient in- 
vestigation, the explorer where none had been 
before him, a pioneer cutting out a path for those 
who should come after. The inexperienced in a 
task like this know nothing of the difiiculties to be 
encountered. Delving among old records, hunt- 
ing up almost forgotten manuscripts without indexes 
or references to guide his way, with only an obscure 
hint or an uncertain clew to follow, which costs 
days or weeks of labor, ending often in a fruitless 
search — these are a few of the obstacles to be met 
with by one wdio attempts for the first time to tell 
the stor}^ of the past, and record the experiences of 
generations who have left behind them onl}- the 
scattered remnants of their history. 

This work, which passed through two editions, 
w^as the chief literary labor of his life. During all 
this time, and subsequently, he wrote lor the press. 
He was the first editor of the Record, a paper first 
published in 1830. Owing to a misunderstanding 
concerning the policy to be pursued in the manage- 
ment of the paper, Mr. Lewis resigned his editorial 
charge at the close of the first six weeks. 

Lynn owes a debt to Mr. Lewis which she can 



44^ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

never repay. To him more than to any other man 
she is indebted for her growth and prosperity. One 
looking onl}^ at the surface of things might call in 
question the soundness of this estimate of Mr. 
Lewis' work and influence. This work did not 
show itself at once in spacious factories or extensive 
w^arehouses, or magnificent public buildings — but 
it made all these things possible, and led the way 
to their realization. It was his gifted pen that first 
called the attention of strangers to the unrivaled 
beauty of her shores, and the grandeur of her 
scenery, and invested Nature's wondrous handi- 
work with unfading charms. Caves and grottoes, 
secluded glen and silvery lake, reflecting the glories 
of the rising sun or mirroring by moonlight the 
grand amphitheater of pine-clad hills, calling to 
mind Whittier's magnificent picture — 

" When the young archer, Morn, shall break 
His arrows on the mountain pines. 
And, golden-sandaled, walk the lake " — 

all these were set forth in the poet's melodious 
verse, or immortalized by his descriptions in prose 
that rivaled in genius the finest productions of the 
writers of romance. To him, mainly, is she in- 
debted for the lighthouse on her coast, and for the 
protection of her beaches. No work of public im- 
provement escaped his notice. It seems almost 
wonderful that a man of his poetical genius, given. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 447 

as many suppose, to reveries and abstractions, 
should be so constantly engaged in the solution of 
the most practical questions of every-day experi- 
ence. In this respect he had a rare combination, 
which is the highest evidence of his genius. Like 
Benjamin Franklin, a smoky chimney, or a bung- 
ling shoe that pinched the foot of the wearer, did 
not escape his notice, and he went to work for a 
remedy. In a Directory which he published, he 
presented a diagram showing how lasts could be 
made that recognized the anatomy of the human 
foot, instead of the old barbarous methods that gave 
more than ample room where it was least required, 
and cramped the toes and distorted the foot by con- 
tracting the space where it was most needed ; and 
all this in obedience to an idiotic fashion. At the 
present time the best English, French and Ameri- 
can shoes conform substantially to the plan sug- 
gested by Mr. Lewis. 

But it was not the various questions affecting the 
material interests of the town that alone engaged 
the attention of Mr. Lewis. He was one of the 
first to engage in the anti-slavery movement, just 
then beginning to assume a special significance 
under the organizing hand of Garrison. Even 
before this his protest found utterance in the follow- 
ing language : " The political system of our nation 
is probably the best which was ever devised by man 
for the common good ; but it practically embraces 



448 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

one evil too obvious to be disrep;arded. While it 
advances the principle that all men have by nature 
the same civil rights, it retains, with strange incon- 
sistency, one-sixth of the whole population in a 
state of abject bodil}' and mental servitude. On its 
own principles, our government has no right to en- 
slave an}' portion of its subjects ; and I am con- 
strained in the name of God and truth to say that 
they must be free. Christianity and political ex- 
pediency both demand their emancipation, nor will 
they always remain unheard. * * * * Where 
are the ministers of our holy religion that their 
prayers are not preferred for the liberation and en- 
lightenment of men with souls as immortal as their 
own? Where are the Senators and Representa- 
tives of our free States that their voices are not 
heard in behalf of this most injured race? " 

In the following sentence he gives wider scope to 
his benevolent impulses : " I trust the time will 
come when on the annals of our country will be 
inscribed the abolition of slavery — when the in-, 
human custom of war shall be viewed with abhor- 
rence — when humanity shall no longer be out- 
raged by the exhibition of capital punishment — 
when the one great principle of love shall pervade 
all classes — when the poor shall be furnished with 
employment and ample remuneration — when men 
shall unite their exertions for the promotion of those 
plans which embrace the welfare of the whole — 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



449 



that the unqualified approbation of Heaven may be 
secured to our country, and that 'glory may dwell 
in our land.' " 

Mr. Lewis' practice was consistent with his pre- 
cepts. He was among the first to organize an anti- 
slavery society in town, and one of the sixteen who 
assembled in Boston at the second anti-slavery 
meeting called by Garrison. He was one of those 
who organized the first temperance society in town, 
and assisted in establishing the first Sunday School 
in Lynn. The following extract from a letter writ- 
ten by Mr. Garrison to Mr. Lewis illustrates the 
state of the anti-slavery movement in the " day of 
small things," and shows how closely the latter was 
identified with it in its earliest stages. The date of 
the letter is March 12, 1831. After alluding to the 
general aspect of the cause, Mr. Garrison writes 

"Do any of the good people of Lynn wish to hear a 
couple of addresses on slavery? If a hall can easily and 
gratuitously be obtained, and if as many will attend as 
honored friend Lundy with their presence, (twenty ac- 
cording to one of your correspondents,) it will give me 
pleasure to address them on Saturday and Sunday even- 
ings next, (19th and 20th inst.,) at 7 o'clock. T will 
cheerfully pay for lighting the hall, etc. The first lec- 
ture will be a defence of the doctrine of immediate abo- 
lition, and a reply to the popular objections of the day. 
The other will be an examination of the merits of the 
American Colonization Society. I am willino- to o-ive 
57 



450 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

you a little trouble because I know you will gladly incur 
it, but you must not be put to the expense. of a farthing 
in procuring a place. On this condition alone can I 
consent to come." 

But he not only had a deep sympathy with Mr. 
Garrison in his great work ; he had also a high 
appreciation of his intellectual talents and his moral 
fitness for the grand movement which was soon to 
rock the nation on the stormy waves of conflicting 
opinion, and finally break the fetters of the slave 
by the shock of battle. The following sonnet shows 
how accurately he took the measure of the slave's 
great champion, whose self-sacrificing life, just 
closed by a triumphing death, built for him a monu- 
ment more enduring than brass : 

TO WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. 

Thy God has cast thee in a noble mould, 

And poured thy fabric full of living soul, 

That fills, informs, and animates the whole, 

As if we saw a vision form unroll ; 

And thou goest forward with Ithurial's spear 

To combat with the evils of the world ; 

And thy keen polished shafts on high are hurled 

To fill Oppression with a dreadful fear. 

And drive him from his hold in Freedom's land, 

Where he has marshaled forth a mail-clad band. 

Armed with the scourge of torture. Like a knight, 

Who battled for the Cross in days of old. 

With truth thy shield, go forward, and be bold, 

And may God aid thee in the glorious fight. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



MR. LEWIS AS A POET. 



451 



Mr. Lewis began to write verse at an early age. 
That he wrote well, the high praise he received 
from competent judges fully proves. In a notice of 
his poetical writings, the Sheffield Ii'is, (Eng.,) 
edited by the poet James Montgomery, alluded to 
a volume of his " poems," just then*published, in the 
following complimentary terms : 

" In many of the moral and religious effusions of our 
American brethren there is an expressed weariness of 
life and a longing to be rid of its cares and woes, which 
we cannot but reprehend, inasmuch as these things in 
the hands of Providence are elements of that salutary 
discipline which is no doubt intended to perfect our edu- 
cation for immortality. In the poems of Mr. Lewis we 
rejoice to see the manifestations of a healthier and more 
comprehensive spirit. * * * * Many passages 
of exceeding beauty will be found in the poem of Love 
as well as in the minor pieces which are appended, the 
majority of them being characterized by high moral 
views, with great sweetness of versification. Of these a 
specimen will be found in our Poet's Corner, which, if 
carefully read, cannot but prompt the wish that the ex- 
quisite little volume from which it was taken may have 
as extensive a circulation in the old country as in the 
new," 

The Norwich (Eng.) Gazette published the fol- 
lowing high commendation : 



452 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

" We think our readers will agree with us, that this is 
as mellifluous verse as ever Campbell or Rogers wrote." 

The poem alluded to by the Sheffield Iris opens 
as follows : 

A purer theme than ever mortal sung, 

A sweeter word hangs on mv trembling tongue ; 

Angels have listened to its voice divine, 

And seraphs bowed before its holj shrine. 

O, thou, fair Truth, whose form arrayed in light. 

Glows by thy throne of heaven forever bright, 

Send thy pure rays into thy poet's heart. 

And holy strength to my glad mind impart ; 

That I may trace the origin of Love, 

And teach mankind to seek her fount above. 

The following lines from the same poem present 
a fine picture of a starry night — 

Benignant Power, how fair thy works appear! 
How full thy glories in each burning sphere : 
The Northern Harp with strings of twinkling gold. 
Pours forth its constant harmony untold ; 
There his bright lamp Arcturus holds on high. 
Filling with light the chambers of the sky ; 
While in a shining group the gentle band 
Of sister Pleiads hold each others' hand. 
And dance all night along the spangled plain, 
To the rich music of the heavenly strain. 

Though humor was not a marked trait in his 
writings, Mr. Lewis could write humorously, as his 
" Ode to the Sea Serpent " shows. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 453 

The poetry of Mr. Lewis reveals no intimate 
knowledge of the world, nor a deep insight into 
the manifold workings of human nature. He has 
written none of those immortal lines that haunt the 
memory, and are transmitted from age to age, the 
imperishable dower that genius bequeaths to the 
sons of men. He was a student of nature rather 
than of character. He lov'ed the music of the sea, 
as its gentle ripples in the sheltered harbor played 
beneath the windows of his cottage, or as its stormy 
waves broke in fury on the beach a few rods distant, 
sounding their everlasting dirges in the watches of 
the night. And he loved the solitude of the woods. 
The waving of the pines, and the sighing of the 
winds beneath the " fretted vault " of heaven were 
to him grander than swinging censers and the subli- 
mest strains of cathedral anthem. He w^as a great 
admirer of Wordsworth, to whom he alludes in one 
of his finest stanzas — 

Thou, fit to stand where Shakspeare stood of old, 
And see the secrets of the Muse unfold ; 
To lie reclined upon the hallowed sod. 
And be the priest of Nature and of God. 

But meritorious as some of Mr. Lewis' poetical 
productions are, he holds a higher rank as a wi^iter 
of prose. His style is always easy and graceful, 
and often elegant ; while some of his descriptions 
manifest a high degree of literary art. Passages 



454 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

can be found in the introduction to his History that 
are scarcely excelled by any modern writer. This 
is the more remarkable in view of the fact that he 
must have written under the pressure of circum- 
stances that gave him little leisure for that pruning 
and careful revision found so essential even to those 
most skilled in the art of expression. His writings 
abound in classical allusions, and his frequent ref- 
erence to the great masters of English speech show 
the wide extent of his erudition. 

Mr. Lewis was born in Lynn, on the 28th of 
August, 1794, and died January 21, 1861, at the 
age of sixty-seven. 



WILLIAM D. THOMPSON. 

William Diamond Thompson was born in 1787 
in the rocky town of Marblehead. He moved to 
Lynn about ten years later, where he lived until 
his death, in 1875. Mr. Thompson was what 
might be called an original character ; but his orig- 
inality did not run in those eccentric channels that 
often call for a large amount of charity and patience 
in following their windings. On the contrary, Mr. 
Thompson was always genial, always hopeful, and 
just as ready to say "good morning" to a boy as to 



BIOGRAPHIES. 455 

a full-grown man. Soon after coming to Lynn he 
worked a while at the "old craft," and then learned 
the art of cutting shoes. He manufactured shoes 
for a time in a small way, and afterward engaged 
in cutting shoes for his brother-in-law, Joseph B. 
Breed. In 1827 or '28 he obtained a position in the 
factory of Nathan Breed, and for many years, till 
near the time of his death, he w^as manager of Mr. 
Breed's large business. Mr. Thompson was an 
admirable salesman. He could tell more stories 
and sell more shoes in the same length of time than 
almost any man living in these parts. 

These were the days when slavery was in full 
blast, and when our shoe business, which at first 
was confined entirely to New England, had ex- 
tended to the South until that section became our 
chief customer. Mr. Thompson was a stalwart 
abolitionist from the first. He had an instinctive 
hatred of slavery, and was one of the small num- 
ber ready to welcome Garrison and his few co- 
workers at the very start of their great mission. 
His home was ever open to welcome the great 
champion, and it was not many years before Lynn 
became known as the " hot-bed " of abolitionism. 
As a matter of course. Southern dealers came on 
here once or twice a year to purchase shoes : and 
as might be supposed, these dealers had little sym- 
pathy with abolition views. It was a performance 
worth studying to see Mr. Thompson handle one 



45^ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

of these customers. First he would tell a story, 
called out by some remark, or by something that 
was passing in the street. Then, as if it were an 
incident of the occasion, he would call attention to 
a particular style of shoe as just the thing for the 
Southern market. Then, as if making a casual 
remark, he would say — " Here 's something we 've 
got up specially for your section ; extra wide, sevens 
to elevens." (Most folks called these nigger shoes. ) 
So he would lead his customer on, going from one 
thing to another by an easy transition, many of the 
topics brought forward not having apparently the 
remotest bearing upon any style of shoes then 
known. But they all did have an important bear- 
ing. His customer concluded he was the man to 
trade with, and in spite of his abolitionism — for 
Mr. Thompson took no pains to conceal his views — 
the most fiery defender of slavery from the South 
was often seen in the salesroom cracking jokes with 
Mr. Thompson, as though he had known him from 
his youth up. 

It was amusing to hear Mr. Thompson talk 
Marblehead. As he was a Marbleheader himself, 
he claimed a large liberty in this direction. He 
was pretty sure to imitate some of the peculiarities 
of speech that used to prevail in that ancient town 
whenever any of its inhabitants, workmen or bind- 
ers, happened to be present. Brief notes, written 
on paper as miscellaneous in its size, quality and 



BIOGRAPHIES. 457 

shape as their contents were miscellaneous in their 
character, were sent by workmen and binders liv- 
ing in Marblehead. These notes were usually 
called " dockets." One day the expressman called 
and handed Mr. Thompson a budget of these 
" dockets." The writer happened to be present. 
Mr. Thompson took one and began to read aloud 
so that all present might hear — " Mr. Thompson, 
I want another set of lasts ; four can't work on one 
set." He read this as Dickens read his Wellerisms, 
broadening the vowels and rendering every part 
with scrupulous faithfulness. He then took up 
another. " Here 's a fellow who thinks he makes 
' French.' I told him to make the edges a little 
thinner, and he wants a rise in his price." This 
allusion to " French " will be quite clear to the old 
"jours," but to the uninitiated an explanation wdll 
be needed. About this time, the style called 
" French " shoes came into fashion, so called from 
their supposed resemblance to the imported article. 
The uppers were usually of light French kid, (when 
it was not American,) sometimes of white satin, and 
occasionally of other light and delicate material. 
The soles were cut from the best of light leather, 
and in " rounding on " were " feather-edged " down 
to the " grain," so that the edge, when finished, was 
about as thick as a ten-cent piece. Some of these 
native productions imitated the French article. 
Some of them did n't. A wag remarked that some 
58 



45^ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

of these shoes furnished a sufficient reason for a 
declaration of war on the part of France. 

Mr. Thompson was popular with the workmen. 
He was very liberal in furnishing " findings " for 
them, such as rosin, paste-flour, bees-wax — for 
making channel-wax, as well as for binders' use. 
There was a good deal of difference in the practice 
of manufacturers in this particular, some of them 
supplying little or none of these things, while others 
furnished all that were needed. In this list, paste- 
flour held the first rank. A prominent manufac- 
turer told the writer the following story — plus the 
names : " Uncle Somebody w^orked for a boss who 
found paste-flour. Uncle used a good deal of 
paste-flour. It was hinted that it was not all used 
for adhesive purposes, but was made to serve as 
the staff' of life. Not to put too fine a point upon it, 
he had it made into cakes. The boss got wind of 
this. He also got wind of the fact that Uncle ex- 
pected company when an unusual quantity of paste- 
flour would be needed. Uncle called for a supply 
of flour and the boss had some already — nicely 
mixed with pulverized ?'Osm. The rosin, not act- 
ing in the least like baking-powders or yeast when 
baked, made a compound such as was never seen 
on sea or land. Bread being the main article in 
an old times bill of fare, and good bread being the 
chief delight of a thrifty housewife, especially when 
company was to judge of its quality, this unlooked- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 459 

for result came upon Uncle's family circle like a 
domestic Waterloo." 

As already intimated, he had an inexhaustible 
fund of stories and reminiscences. One da}' a 
workman from Marblehead entered the factory ; 
as he had put in an appearance a few days before, 
Mr. Thompson said — " How 's this ? You were 
here a day or two ago." "Well, I had a chance 
to come over." "Ah, how's that Joe?" "Well, 
you see Tom Roundey was going to walk over, 
and I ,came over with him." The rarity of such 
a "chance" as this made Mr. Thompson smile 
audibly. 

A Qiiaker, well-known in the neighborhood, 
called one day and inquired of Nathan — as Mr. 
Breed was usually called — if he did n't want a 
basket of good apples. The price being satisfac- 
tor}', Nathan told him that he might leave a basket. 
Mr. Thompson said he would have a basket of the 
same kind. In due time the apples were brought. 
The Qiiaker pointed to one, and with special em- 
phasis, remarked — " That basket, Nathan, is thine ; 
the other, William, is thine." Mr. Thompson mused 
within himself, " Of course these two baskets of ap- 
ples are just alike — same kind, the same price. 
I '11 send Nathan's basket down to my house ; " and 
they were delivered accordingly. A short time 
after, the Qiiaker made his appearance again in 
Nathan's factory. Nathan was present : so was 



460 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Mr. Thompson. " How did thee like thy apples, 
Nathan? " asked the Qiiaker. " Poor things ; poor 
things!^'' said Nathan, in his crisp and emphatic 
manner. Mr. Thompson poised himself for the oc- 
casion — "Mine were excellent, excellent!'''' As 
the case was sufficiently elucidated, no further com- 
ment was made. 

During the anti-Masonic controversy of 1830, 
and the few years following, Mr. Thompson was 
known as a stanch anti-Mason. In short, he was 
never anything but stanch in the support of any 
opinion he saw reason to hold. 

Mr. Thompson was also one of the earliest among 
the temperance reformers. In all the earlier stages 
of the movement, through the years preceding the 
Washingtonian reform, he was a thorough, con- 
sistent temperance man, who never preached be- 
yond his practice ; and he was among the very first 
that stood on the total abstinence platform. Skeptics 
might assail the soundness of his philosophy, but 
they never attempted to cast doubt on the sincerity 
of his convictions, or the consistency of his practice. 

As might have been expected, Mr. Thompson 
entered the Washingtonian movement with his 
whole soul. He combined the zeal of the new 
convert with the steadfastness of the veteran. The 
few aged men now living among us, whose life 
took on a new meaning from the date of that great 
moral upheaval, remember, and will never forget. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 461 

the friend whose counsel and money were never 
wanting when poverty and the besetments of a 
drunkard's appetite stood in their path hke an Apol- 
lyon ready to slay and devour them. 

Though outspoken in his denunciation of those 
who he believed were wilfully following the wrong, 
and setting snares for the feet of the young and un- 
wary, there was no tinge of the cynic in his nature, 
and no moroseness nor misanthropy in his character. 
He took a cheerful view of things, and his general 
philosophy smoothed his way over the rough places 
of life. He believed there was no evil in the world 
except what man made for himself. 

In the few last years of his life, when too old to 
attend to business, he would be seen, on pleasant 
days, about the railroad station, or in some favorite 
stopping-place, ready to tell, wuth a clear recollec- 
tion, anything that happened in Lynn, or vicinity, 
during the last fifty or seventy-five years. He could 
begin with the " embargo," and what Marblehead 
people thought of it: of the war of 1812, when a 
good many people from that town moved over to 
Lynn ; of the hard times of the w^ar, and of the 
years following: and what they did n't have for 
breakfast in those days ; what relation the Saugus 
Newhalls were to the Pudding-Hill Newhalls ; or 
any other event of public or local importance that 
might be brought to his mind. 



462 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

HENRY A. BREED. 

One of our best known, and in some respects 
most remarkable men, was born in 1798, being the 
son of Thomas A. and Hannah N. Breed. 

In April, 1800, his family removed to Salem ; 
later, in 181 1, to Mount Vernon, N. H. ; and again, 
in 1812, returned to Lynn, residing at the Lynn 
Hotel. Here an old merchant boarder became in- 
terested in him, and when peace returned, in 1815, 
procured him a situation in the employ of Skinner 
& Hurd, of Charlestown, then considered one of the 
very foremost grocery houses in the country. Here 
Mr. Breed remained till his majority, and then, 
April 21, 1819, he returned to Lynn and opened a 
grocery of his own. 

At this early period he had conceived the idea, 
as the purpose of his life, " to see what he could do 
for his native town." He at once engaged in all 
the reformatory enterprises that could be suggested. 
One of the first of these was the effort to have a 
stove placed in the Old Tunnel Church. Against 
much opposition this was done, and, of course, 
highly approved of afterward. This was in 1819. 
It was followed by a movement for setting shade- 
trees along most of the streets, to which he largely 
contributed. The old Lynn Mechanics Bank, first 
started in 181 4, had thus far only a very imperfect 
system of business ; this Mr. Breed undertook the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 463 

correction of, and gave it the tirst regular and satis- 
factory form it had ever had. At this time neither 
mutual insurance nor savings banks were known in 
the town; he set himself to create both, taking the 
agency of the Mutual Company, and writing the 
first policy of insurance ever made in the place. 
To develop the capacity of Lynn he also began the 
erection of dwellings, and other buildings, selling 
them to the people on very favorable terms ; and 
in sixteen 3'ears he had thus increased the number 
of habitable structures in Lynn by the number of 
four hundred and sixteen. 

But in 1836 he found that the unsettled state of 
public affairs would not further admit of operations 
on as generous a scale as he had proposed. The 
final result was that he became bankrupt for the 
sum of $900,000. Considering the causes that led 
to this indebtedness, and its very existence at such 
a time and among such a people, this failure must 
stand as a very remarkable case. It involved many 
others in its consequences ; Nahant Bank went 
down for $150,000, and the Union Insurance Com- 
pan}' for $50,000, Mr. Breed owning a fifth interest 
in each of these companies. 

Thus, in the sixteen years business, he had lost 
the sum of $42,000; but he claims, no doubt with 
reason, that in that time he had created here 
$750,000 of new value, which was equal to the 



464 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

whole town valuation for taxable purposes, when 
he came home in 1819. 

After this, and a great variety of minor services 
in which he sought to benefit his native place, and 
doubtless did so, and after he had sfone throutrh 
with the painful " Eastern Land Speculation," losing 
some $200,000 thereby, a company of Boston mer- 
chants invited him to take charge of a new enter- 
prise, which was the building of a new city and 
naval station at Brunswick, Ga. He went thither 
with a large force, opened a heavy trade in lumber, 
and during his stay of three years completed all, or 
most, of the company's design, which included a 
canal from the Altamaha to the Turtle river, a rail- 
road from Brunswick to Tallahassee, or more than 
two hundred miles, a saw mill with $75,000 capital, 
and a hotel costing $50,000, as well as many lesser 
things. 

During this time he was always engaged in set- 
tling up the ruins of his earlier misfortune. It was 
no small nor pleasant work. Six years were ex- 
pired before a termination was at last afforded him, 
and then only by the United States bankrupt law. 

Mr. Breed then resolved on trying the standard 
business of Lynn, and accordingly commenced the 
shoe business, locating himself in the old Lynn 
Hotel building. A variable fortune attended this 
effort ; he had good success for a time, but ulti- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 465 

matelv failed, yet with enough saved to settle in 
full with all the workmen emplo3'ed. 

By this time the memorable year of 1849 had 
arrived, and he was solicited by Boston parties to 
go into business in California. Having agreed, he 
arrived in San Francisco December ist, when things 
were in their lowest condition. He had been made 
consignee of three ships' cargoes, and more than 
one strong man was ready to bid him welcome. 
By the courtesy and assistance of the late Thomas 
O. Larkin, he was introduced to General Valejo, at 
Benicia, after consulting with whom, both returned 
to San Francisco and formed a partnership for gen- 
eral merchandise and land business. Mr. Larkin 
furnishing $100,000 capital. This firm showed 
great enterprise ; they built stores, planked the 
streets, constructed wharves, and dug canals. The 
town of Sutterville owes its origin to them. But 
they soon met their reverses. Six large fires con- 
sumed their property to an estimated value of sev- 
eral millions : and, though Mr. Breed considers his 
realized profits in California worth more than 
$500,000, his losses ran up to above $1,000,000, and 
he found it advisable to relinquish further effort in 
that direction. 

On the 30th of May, 1857, Mr. Breed returned 

to Lynn with so little left him as only to reckon 

himself a poor man. For a time he looked to his 

horticultural skill, in which he held always a high 

59 



466 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

rank, for his daily living. But in 1858 the territory 
now called the " Highlands " began to attract notice, 
and he again adventured in the development and 
sale of lands. His movements in this cost him 
almost $10,000, rewarded only by the present dis- 
covery that the land would not sell. He was forced 
to leave it idle, where it lay for more than ten years. 

Meantime the business of quartz milling was be- 
coming of interest to the merchants of Boston, and 
Mr. Breed was invited to undertake the manufac- 
ture and management of a new machine for that 
purpose. He took hold of the affair, and formed a 
company with $150,000, which pursued the work 
for two years, and made $20,000. With this suc- 
cess he again started in Lynn in 1864, and formed 
a home company with $200,000, for the same busi- 
ness, to which was incidentally added the prepara- 
tion of raw-bone fertilizers. It was this business 
that led to the erection of the large mill at the cor- 
ner of Western avenue and Federal street. He went 
on successfully in this for a time, till 1866, but his 
old misfortune seemed to find him out, the company 
failed, and all the stock was lost, the building in- 
cluded. 

In 1868 he again gave his attention to his High- 
land property, the popularity of which had con- 
siderably advanced. Since then he has made ex- 
tensive improvements therein, la3'ing out streets, 
investigating titles and erecting buildings, by which 



BIOGRAPHIES. 467 

the taxable value of the premises has been greatly 
increased ; yet, at the present time, he intimates 
that he is more than likely to meet reverses that 
may undermine his entire possession. 

Such is a very rapid sketch of the long career of 
one of the most remarkable of the business men of 
Lynn. At the age of eighty-two he is still among 
us in full health and vigor, with memory stocked 
with the notable things of the past, and a library of 
reference to the local historian. One of the most 
unselfish of men, he has never been lax in his 
efforts, so early commenced, for the good of his 
native place ; yet it is not pleasant to have to add 
that none of these enterprises seem to have resulted 
in much good to him, though always well for others. 
As an example may be mentioned his founding the 
Lynn Mechanics Institute, about 1845, that built 
the block known as Exchange Hall, and was to 
provide a most worthy class of facilities for free 
education. Like so many more of his plans, it 
missed its specific mark but ripened into profit in a 
different way. 

Mr. Breed was one of the original members and 
founders of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 
surrounded by a circle of genial spirits, of whom he 
is now almost a sole survivor. In similar associa- 
tions he has always found his great delight, and to- 
day realizes that his books and his garden have 
yielded him a surer return of happiness than the 



468 SKETCHES OF LYNX. 

absorbing pursuits of mankind that have so much 
drawn him away from their full enjoyment. 



JOHN B. ALLEY. 

John Bassett Alley was born in Lynn in 1817. 
He had only the small advantages of the public 
schools, and at the earh' age of fourteen years was 
apprenticed to Pelatiah Purinton to learn the shoe- 
maker's trade. Mr. Purinton, a worthy member of 
the Society of Friends, had many apprentices, but 
declared that John was the best of them all, and he 
made a practical recognition of his faithful service 
by giving his apprentice his time when he was nine- 
teen years old. Mr. Alley early developed those 
traits which marked his future life — industry, per- 
severance, a thirst for knowledge, and great busi- 
ness capacity. His love of reading ran in the direc- 
tion of history and biography, and especially those 
branches relating to the political history of America, 
and the career of our public men. At an early age 
he had laid up an unusual store of information, 
and an extraordinary memory, especially of dates, 
placed at his command whatever his industry had 
gathered. 

Having obtained his freedom he at once em- 
barked in business. He bought a stock of goods 



BIOGRAPHIES. 469 

and sought a market for his venture in the West, 
then beginning that marvelous development hitherto 
without parallel in the world. His journey — part 
of it on the Mississippi — was beset with difficulties 
and dangers, but despite youth and inexperience, 
his first effort was a success. He now entered the 
shoe business, and soon after established himself 
in Boston as a dealer in shoe stock, and more 
especially sole leather. He soon became noted for 
those business qualities which marked his subse- 
quent life. His intimate acquaintance with the 
principles of trade, and the soimdness of his judg- 
ment, brought their sure results. His success as a 
merchant was soon manifest, and he took his place 
among the leading business men of the State. 

From youth Mr. Alley showed an interest in the 
anti-slavery movement, and throughout his whole 
life has maintained a steady, consistent course in 
all his acts and utterances touching this, the greatest 
question of the time. He cast his first vote at a 
presidential election for the candidates of the Liberty 
Party. He was one of the organizers of the Free 
Soil Party, and was a candidate for presidential 
elector in 1848. 

He early turned his attention to public affairs, 
and in the year 1850 — when the city government 
was established — was a member of the Board of 
x\ldermen. In 185 1 he was one of the Governor's 
Coimcil, and in 1852 a member of the State Senate. 



470 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

He was chosen a member of the State Constitutional 
Convention held in 1853. 

In 1858 he was chosen Representative to Con- 
gress, the first and only native of Lynn who has 
held that high position. He served eight years, 
through the Thirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, Thirty- 
eighth and Thirty-ninth Congress. He was a 
member of the Committee on Post Offices and Post 
Roads through his entire term of service ; was 
made Chairman of the Committee in the Thirtv- 
eighth and Thirty-ninth Congress, and did very 
efficient work in behalf of those important interests. 
He was also a member of the Committee on the 
Bankrupt Law. In 1866 he was a delegate to the 
Philadelphia Loyalists' Convention. 

Mr. Alley has twice visited Europe ; the first 
time in i860, as the representative of important 
mercantile interests, and again in 1869, making the 
acquaintance of prominent men in political and 
commercial circles. 

For the last fourteen years Mr. Alley has held no 
public office ; but his unabated interest in public 
affairs has divided his attention with the demands 
of an extensive business, and the pleasing duties of 
a large hospitality ; his fine mansion, near the sea- 
shore, being the stopping place of many distin- 
guished guests. 

Mr. Alley's career as a public man and a promi- 
nent merchant has brought him in intimate relations 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



471 



with nearh' all the leading statesmen of the country, 
and with the foremost business men in commercial 
circles. Few men have a wider and more exact 
knowledge of the questions relating to the develop- 
ment of our material resources. The great rail- 
road enterprises of the last twenty years engaged 
his special attention, and his large knowledge and 
practical judgment have made him ^n authority on 
these and kindred questions. 

Few men are better qualified than he to furnish a 
book of reminiscences of the events of the last fifty 
years. His extensive acquaintance with public 
men, and his large business experience, combined 
with a memory unusually tenacious, place at his 
command materials too valuable to be lost. Espec- 
ially minute is his knowledge of the social and in- 
dustrial progress of our city ; and a volume such as 
he could write would be an invaluable contribution 
to our local history. 



THE VOTE OF LYNN SINCE 1788. 



The following table shows the vote of Lynn — 
so far as recorded — for Governor and Presidential 
Electors, beginning in 1788, when the first presi- 
dential election was held, and ending with that of 
1876, thus representing the vote in both State and 
National elections in each presidential year. In 
the years when no electors were chosen — or no 
vote recorded — the ballots cast for Representative 
to Congress have been given — so far as recorded — 
to represent the National vote of Lynn : 



April 7, 178S. 

For Governor — 

John Hancock .... 62 
Benjamin Lincoln . . 59 

No vote for Electors recorded. 

April 2, 1792. 

For Governor — 

John Hancock .... 46 
Francis Dana .... 6 

No record of Electors this year. 

April 4, 1796. 
For Governor — 

Increase Sumner ... 76 
Samuel Adams ... 53 



November 7, 1796. 
Elector — 

John Norris 55 

But one chosen according to 

the record. 

March 3, 1800. 

Representative to Congress — 
Nathan Read .... 30S 
Jacob Crowninshield . 112 

No vote for Electors recorded. 

April 7, 1800. 
For Governor — 

Caleb Strong . , . .113 
Elbridge Gerrv ... 68 



VOTE OF LYNN SINCE 1 788. 



473 



For Electors at large — 

David Cobb, (Me.) . . 173 
OliverWendell, (Mass.) 173 



April 7, 1S04. 
For Governor — 

James Sullivan . . 
Caleb Strong . . 



272 
145 



April 4, iSoS. 

For Governor — 

James Sullivan , , . . 41S 
Christopher Gore . . 273 

There is no record of anv elec- 
tion of Electors this year. 

Representative to Congress — 
Daniel Kilham .... 375 
Benjamin Pickman . . 265 

November 12, 1812. 

Electors at large — 

Harrison G. Otis . . 247 
Nathan Dane .... 247 

The record notes— not any for 
the Republicans. 

April 6, 1S12. 
For Governor — 

Elbridge Gerry . . .488 
Caleb "strong \ . . .321 
Thomas Witt .... i 

April I, 1816. 

For Governor — 

Samuel Dexter . . . 41S 
John Brooks .... 266 

Representative to Congress — 
Thomas Stephens . . 175 
Nathaniel Silsbee . . 235 

No vote for Electors recorded. 

■ 1820 
For Governor — 

John Brooks 174 

William Eustis . . . .141 
Electors at large — 

William Phillips ... 54 
60 



William Gray .... 51 
B. W. Crowninshield . 71 
Levi Lincoln .... ^i 

1824. 

For Governor — 

William Eustis . . . 626 
Samuel Lathrop . . . 2S3 

Electors at large — 

William Gray .... 259 
Levi Lincoln . . . 259 
William Bavlies ... 20 
William Reed .... 20 

1828. 

For Governor — 

Levi Lincoln . . . .116 
Harrison Gray Otis . 4 

Electors at large — 

Thomas L. Winthrop . 346 
Samuel Lathrop . . . 347 
Nathan Willis .... 25 
Harrison G. Otis . . 5 
William Prescott ... 5 

1832. 

For Governor — 

Samuel Lathrop . . . 468 
Levi Lincoln .... 212 

Marcus Morton . . .197 

Electors at large — 

John D. Williams . . 478 

Charles Jackson . . . 225 

Nathan Willis ... 123 

1836. 

For Governor — 

Marcus Morton . . . 708 

Edward Everett . . . 424 

Electors at large — 

Nathan Willis .... 62S 

Seth Whitmarsh . . . 628 

Nathaniel Silsbee . . 440 

Edward A. Newton . . 440 



1840. 
For Governor — 

Marcus Morton 



90J 



474 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



John Davis SS8 

George W. Johnson . S 
Electors at large — 

William P. Walker . . 916 
Ebenezer Fisher . . . 916 
Isaac C. Bates . . , . 8S7 
Peleg Sprague • . . . 887 
Jesse Wheaton .... 10 
Sylvester Judd .... 10 

1844. 

For Governor — 

George Bancroft . . . 980 
George N. Briggs . . S90 
Samuel E. Sewell . . 103 

Electors at large — 

Gavton P. Osgood . . 958 
Samuel C. Allen . . . 95S 
Abbott Lawrence . . S72 
Lewis Strong .... 872 

Joel Harden 114 

John G. Whittier . . .114 



1848. 

For Governor — 

Caleb Gushing . . . 
Stephen C. Phillips 
George N. Briggs 
Frederic Robinson 

Electors at large — 

Charles G. Greene 
Henry H. Childs 
Levi Lincoln . 
Edmund Dwight 
Samuel Hoar . 
William Jackson 



1S52. 
For Governor — 

John H. Clifford . . 

Horace Mann . . . 

Henry W. Bishop . 

David Henshaw . . 
Electors at large — 

Robert C. Winthrop 

George Bliss . . . 



454 
, 891 

575 
160 

728 
72S 
530 
530 
895 
895 



924 

677 

493 

44 

799 
801 



Charles G. Greene . . 6S7 
James S. Whitney . . S29 
Stephen C. Philfips . 630 
James Fowler .... 630 



1856. 

For Governor — 

Henry J. Gardner . i 
Erasmus D. Beach . 
George W. Gordon . 

Electors at large — 

Julius Rockwell . . 1 
Thomas Colt . . . . i 
Nathaniel J. Lord . 
Whiting Griswold . 
William Appleton . 
Chas. D. Stockbridge 



,691 
530 
161 

.774 
.796 
523 
5^5 
353 
25^ 



i860. 

For Governor — 

John A. Andrew . 
Erasmus D. Beach 
Amos A. Lawrence 

Electors at large — 

George Morey . . 
Reuben A. Chapman. 1,591 
Isaac Davis .... 733 
Charles Heebner . . 732 
Levi Lincoln .... 343 
Marshall P. Wilder . 343 



i>572 
712 

475 
1-591 



1864. 
For Governor — 

John A. Andrew . 

Henry W. Paine . 
Electors at large — 

Edward Everett . 

Whiting Griswold 

Robert C. Winthrop 541 

Erasmus D. Beach . 541 



2,017 
546 

2,030 
.030 



1868. 
For Governor — 

William Claflin . . 2,461 
John Qiuncy Adams. 1,041 



VOTE OF LYNN SINCE 1 788. 



475 



Electors at large — 

David Sears . . . 
John H. Clifford , 
Josiah G. Abbott . 
John R. Bri<,^gs . 



2,735 

2)73^ 

921 

9-1 



1S72. 

For Governor — 

Wm. B. Washburn . 2,819 
Francis \V. Bird . . 1,422 

Electors at large — 

Ebenezer R. Hoar . 2,778 
John M. Forbes . . 2,778 



Chester \V. Chapin . 1,395 
Josiah G. Abbott . . 1,395 

1876. 

For Governor — 

Alexander H. Rice . 2,1520 
Chas. Francis Adams 2,107 
John I. Baker . . . 361 

Electors at large — 

Thomas Talbot . . 2,773 
Stephen Salsbury . 2,775 
William Gaston . . 2,235 
Edward Avery . . . 2.266 



SHOE FACTORIES OF LYNN. 



The following table gives a list of most of the 
larger shoe factories which have been built upon 
the spot where they now stand within the last half 
century. The date when these were erected can 
be ascertained with a good degree of certainty. 
This list does not include several large establish- 
ments, composite in their character, and uncertain 
in their histor}^ These have reached their present 
proportions by the enlargement of smaller build- 
ings, with the necessary remodelling to fit them to 
meet the requirements of the present day. Some 
of these are made up of two old factories joined to- 
gether, and reconstructed to keep pace with the 
revolution that has taken place within the last 
twenty years. When it is understood that one of 
these modern factories has a capacity of some 
twenty of the old-time establishments, an explana- 
tion will be found to the fact that the number of 
these factories does not correspond with the great 
increase of the shoe business of our city. Most of 
these are from four to six stories in height, and 




MODERN SHOE FACTORY, LYNN, MASS. 



SHOE FACTORIES OF LYNN. 477 

cover an area of from 4000 to 10,000 feet of land. 
Those marked (b) denote brick, and (w) those 
constructed of wood. It will be seen that duringf 
the last ten 3-ears most of these structures were built 
of brick. Of the first seven given in this list only 
that built by Nathan Breed is now used as a shoe 
factory : 

George Johnson, (w) North Common street, 1833 

Nathan Breed, (\v) Broad street, built in 1835 

David Taylor, (b) corner of Commercial and Elm streets, . 1S35 

Josiah Clough, (b) Centre street, 1S36 

Nathan D. Chase, (b) Broad street, 1S36 

Christopher Robinson, (b) South Common street, , . . , 1S4S 

Pratt & Bovce, (b) Broad street, 1S50 

John Wooldredge, (b) corner of Exchange and Mt. Vernon 

streets, 1S51 

S. M. Bubier's block, (w) corner of Oxford and Market 

streets, 1S55 

John Wooldredge, block extension (b) Mt. Vernon street, . 185S-9 
Lucian Newhall's block, (w) cor. Exchange and Spring sts. . 1S59 

B. B. Breed's block, (w) i860 

Haskell's block. Union street, 1861 

P. A. Chase's block, (w) Spring street, 1S62 

Thomas Stacy, (w) Exchange street, enlarged 1S63 

B. F. Spinney's block, (w) — moved from Union street to 

rear — built in 1S64 

Breed & Abbott's building, (b) corner of State and Brown 

streets, 1S65 

J. E. F. Marsh, (b) Market street, 1S65 

Theodore Attwill's block, (w) Munroe street, 1S65 

Exchange block, (b) Exchange street, 1S67 

John M. Nev^'hall, (w) Union street, 1S68 

Brown Brothers, (b, stone front,) Union street, near Ex- 
change street, 1S68 



478 SKETCHES OF LYNN. 

Frazier's block, (b) corner of Market and Summer streets, 

built in 1S58, burned in 1868, re-built in 1869 

Johnson, Nichols & Ingalls, (b) Munroe street, 1S69 

Bubier's block, west side of Market street, built in 1866, 

burned in 1S68, and re-built in 1869 

Bubier's block, (b) east side of Market street, ..•-... 1870 
Dore's block, (w) Washington street, near Railroad .... 1870 
Hussey & Musso's building, (w) Exchange street, remodeled, 1871 
Spinney's block, (w) — west end, — Almont street, .... 1871 

Patrick Lennox, (b) Market street, 1871 

Spinney & Caldwell, Oxford street, 1871 

Proctor & Ingalls' block, (w) Union street, 1871 

Isaac Attwill, (w) built 1857, enlarged 1872 

S. S. Ireson, (w) Munroe street, 1872 

Breed & Sweetser's block, (b) between Railroad avenue 

and Union street, 1872 

D.- B. Moulton's block, Union street, 1872 

Bennett & Barnard's block, (w) Willow street, 1872 

Mower Brothers' block, (w) Willow street 1S72 

J. N. Smith's block, (w) Union street, 1872 

Breed «& Dole, (w) Oxford street, remodelled, 1872 

Keene Brothers' block, (b) corner of Willow and Oxford 

streets, 1S72-3 

Jerome Ingalls' block, (b) Union street, 1874 

John Mahon & Son, (b) 1874 

John B. Johnson & Son's, (w) Central Avenue and Wash- 
ington street, 1875 

Lucian Newhall (w) Oxford street, between Willow street 

and Central avenue, 1875 

Keene Brothers' block, (b) — north — Oxford street, . . 1875-6 

A. F. Smith, (w) Oxford street, 1S76 

John Wooldredge, (b) Mount Vernon street, 1876 

Sweetser's block, (b) corner of Oxford street and Central 

avenue, 1S77 

Fuller's block, (b) corner of Central and Railroad avenues . 1S77 

Banci-oft's building, (w) Oxford street, 1877 

D. H. Sweetser, (b) Willow street, near Liberty street, . . 1877 



POPULATION OF LYNN. 479 

John Mahon & Son, (b) near Liberty* street, 1S77 

A. B. Martin's block, (b) Market street, 1879 

Valpe_v & Anthony's block, (b) corner of Central avenue 

and Liberty street, 1S79 

T. P. Richardson & Co., (b) Central avenue, 1879 

P. Sherry's block, (b) Munroe street, 'S79 

B. F. Spinney's block, (b) Union street, 1S80 

C. B. Tebbett's block, (b) Willow street, 1880 



POPULATION OF LYNN. 1830- 1880. 



A better understanding of the gain made between 
the years 1850 and i860 will be obtained by men- 
tion of the fact that Swampscott was set off from 
Lynn in 1852, and Nahant in 1853. 

1830, 6,138 

1840, 9,367 

1850, 14^257 

1S60, 195083 

1870, 28,233 

1875, 33,600 

1880 (estimated), 40,000 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



1S25 — Charles F. Lummus published the first newspaper (The 

Lynn Mirror') printed in Lvnn. It appeared September 3. 

1826 — The Lynn Institution for Savings was incorporated 

June 20. 
1S2S — The Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized. 

The Lynn Lyceum was established December 23. 
1829— The first complete map of Lynn was made by Alonzo 

Lewis from a special survey. 
1S30 — The Lynn Record was started by Alonzo Lewis January 23. 
Railroad house, head of Market street, built by John B. 
Alley. 
1831 — The Essex Democrat^ the third newspaper in Lynn, was 
published by Benjamin Mudge. 
Coal first brought into Lynn by Henry A. Breed. 
1832 — The Weekly Messetiger, the fourth newspaper published 
in Lynn, was first issued April 14. 
The Lynn Anti-Slavery Society was organized April 25. 
The Lynn Mechanics Fire and Marine Insurance Company 

incorporated. 
Nahant Bank established. 

Great anti-nullification meeting held in the Town Hall 
December 25. 
1833 — Friction matches introduced. 

1834 — Meetings of Mount Carmel Lodge discontinued. 
1835 — George Thompson, the noted abolitionist, visited Lynn. 

Old Mechanics Bank, Broad street, built. 
1838 — Eastern Railroad opened for travel August 18. 







'I! '' 

11 II 



\>tt 



\\ u 



iilfllMiffii 







ODD fellows' hall, LYNN, MASS. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



481 



1S3S— The fifth newspaper, with the title of The Lynn FrcciiKni. 

was issued November 10. 
1S39— Great storm, beginning December 15, and lasting three 
days, did immense damage, especially along the coast. 
Twenty vessek were wrecked at Swampscott, and seven- 
teen dead bodies were found on the beach. 
1S40— The Puritan, a religious newspaper, was. started this year 

in Lynn, with Rev. Parsons Cooke as editor. 
1S41— Lyceum Hall built, corner of Market and Summer streets. 
First daguerreotype picture taken in Lynn, by James R. 
Newhall. 
1S42— Robert Trevett. a noted lawyer of Lynn, died januarv i^. 
aged S3- 
The Essex County Wasliiugfouian, a temperance paper, 
was started March 16. Christopher Robinson Avas pro- 
prietor. 
1S44— The Essex Count\- Whi<y, a weekly newspaper, was begun 

this year. 
1S45— Mount Carmel Lodge of Free Masons, discontinued in 

1834, was this year reorganized. 
1S46— The old Lynn Light Infantry, organized in 1812, was dis- 
banded. 
The Essex County Agricultural Society held its cattle 
show^ October 8. 
1847— The Essex County Agricultural Fair was again held in 

Lynn September 29. 
1848— Carriage road over. harbor side of Long Beach built. 

George Gray, the Lynn hermit, died February, aged 71. 
1849— Lynn Police Court established. 
1850 — Lynn adopts a city form of government. 
Pine Grove Cemetery consecrated July 24. 
Ten hour system adopted. Bells ring at 6 P. M. 
185 1 — Hiram Marble begins the excavation of Dungeon Rock. 
1S52 — Louis Kossuth visits Lynn May 6. 

Swampscott incorporated as a separate town. 
1853— Nahant incorporated March 29. 

Illuminating gas first used in Lynn January 13. 

61 



482 SKETCHES OF EYNN. 

1853 — Cars began to run over the Saiigus branch railroad. 

1855 — City Charter amended, and the municipal year begins the 

first day in January. 
1856 — Sagamore Hotel built. 

Egg Rock lighthouse first lighted September 15. 
1857 — Bark Federal wrecked — all on board lost — January iS. 
1858 — Telegraphic communication between Lynn and other 
places opened. 

Catholic Cemetery consecrated November 4. 
1859 — Bark Vernon came ashore on Ivong Beach February 2. 
i860 — Shoemakers' strike begun in February. 

First horse railroad cars run November 29. 

Market street first lighted with gas December 7. 
1861 — Nahant Hotel burned September 12. 

Lynn Light Infantry and Lynn City Guards start for the 
seat of war April 16, four days after the attack on Sumter. 
1862 — Great war meeting held on the Common August 31. 

Soldiers" burial lot laid out in Pine Grove Cemetery. 
1863 — Boston and Lynn Horse Railroad Company began to run 

cars to Chelsea beach June i. 
1864 — Frederic Tudor died February 6, aged 80. 

Free delivery of letters from the post office. 

First steam fire engine arrived in Lynn August 11. 
1865 — Corner stone of City Hall laid November 28. 
1867 — City Hall dedicated November 30. 

1868 — Great fire on Market street December 25 ; Frazier's and 
Bubier's blocks destroyed. 

Five Cents Savings Bank building, Market Street, built. 
1869 — Factor}^ of Edwin H. Johnson, and other buildings on Mun- 
roe street, destroyed by fire January 2^. 

Ireson street school-house built. 

Shepard school-house built. 

Tornado swept through Lynn September 8, doing much 
damage. 
1870 — Music Hall, on Central avenue, built. 
187 1 — Young Men's Christian Association incorporated. 

Electric fire-alarm introduced. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TAI5LK. 483 

1S71 — Eastern railroad accidont at Rt'\orc: ^;^ lives lost — 11 troiii 

Lynn — and some 60 wounded. 
1S72 — Cobbett school-house dedicated. 
Ingalls school-house dedicated. 
Bell placed in tower of City Hall. 
Odd Fellows' Hall dedicated October 7. 
Eastern railroad station, Central square, built. 
Epizootic prevailed among horses in the latter part of the 

year: but few horses were able to travel. 
Reservoir on Pine Hill built. 
1873 — Soldiers" monument. Park square, dedicated September 17. 
Concrete crossings first laid. 

Birch pond made by building dam across Birch brook. 
Friends' Biennial Conference held in Nahant street Uni- 
versalist church November 19. 
1S74 — Home for aged women incorporated February 6. 
Academy of Music, Market street, built. 
Horse railroad extended to Upper Swampscott and Oak- 
land Grove. 
1875 — United States Conference of Universalists held October jo. 
1876 — Engine house, on Federal street, built. 

Centennial of the nation observed by services in the old 
Methodist church. 
1878 — Engine house built on Broad street. 

Fence around the Park built. 
1879 — Horse railroad extended to Cemetery. 

Two hundred and fiftieth anniversar\ of the settlement of 
Lynn. 
1879-80 — Boyden's block (b), Union street, built. 
1880 — Young Men's Christian Association building, corner of 
Market and Liberty streets, built. 
Horse railroad opened through Summer street to Central 
Station and Long Beach. 



IN DEX 



PAGE. 

Adams Association 23S 

Alley, John B 46S 

Alexander 36 

Anti-Masons 126 

Anti-slavery movement just begun in 1S30 126 

Athenian Club 253 

Argand burner g 

Arkwright 30 

Awls, breaking ^g, 63 

" Barvel," a name given to the shoemaker's apron 3S 

Beating-out machine invented by Joseph B.Johnson.. 20 

Bells in Lynn. 2S6, 40S 

Binding shoes 3?^340 

Black-strap , 45, 46, 135, 136 

Blanchard, Nathaniel (Cap'n Natty) 130 

Books in shops 6 

Boston 2, 3 

Boston Gazette of 1764 13 

Boys in shops 39> 44 

Boys' wardrobe in old times 76, Si 

Breed, Henry A 463 

Bridges, Edward 12 

Galvanism 6 

Campaign of 1S40 174-193 

Cash paid by a few bosses in old times 1 19, 120 

Catechism 5 

Christian Association 253 

Chronological table 4S0-483 

Churches of Lynn 43S 

Clam banks S 

Clothing, patched 10, 77 

Cobbler 4 



INDEX. 



485 



PAGE. 

Coniinon, Lynn 290-30^ 

Common, buildings on the Common in 1S25 299-302 

Common, trees on 291-296 

Contrast between fifty years ago and now i_i j 

Congress boot first made ^^6 

Congress boot, patent for granted to Cliarles Winslow 336 

Cordials 54,55 

Credit in old times 103, 104 

Crispin 4 

Curtin, Enoch 267, 26S 

Dagyr, John Adams 1:5 

Democratic Pavilion of 1S40 1S7-103 

Discussions in shoemakers' shops 5 

Downing, Elijah 15 

Drunkenness, other names given to 4- 

Eastern Railroad Company began operations 15S 

Emigration from New England 1 iS 

Engine Companies of Lynn 260-2S9 

Engine, first drafting, used in Lynn 3yi 

Electric telegraph -j 

Engines, trials of. 2SS, 2S9 

Engines, trials of at fires 277, 27S 

Everett Debating Club 255 

Exploring Circle 237 

Factory system introduced 16 

Factory system revolutionizes business 34 1 

Fall River 3 

Farming in 1S30 2, 3 

Fashions fifty years ago 7 '-§5 

Financial measures of Congress in 1S37 171 

F'ires, frequency of false alarms of 2S7 

Fish mess at Nahant 4S 

Franklin Club 235 

Franklin Club, members of. 23^ 

Friends' school established 377 

Friends' Society 400-403 

Gardening, a good deal done in 1S37 '62, 163 

Garrison, Wm. L 7 

George's Banks 4 

Gnoraologian Society 338 

Grahamism 322-229 



486 



SKETCHES OP^ LYNN. 



I'AGE. 

Grand Banks . 

Grindstone, turning the loo 

Grog, origin of the term .(■, 

Hair cutting liardly a decorative art ^r- 

" Heeling " first made a specialty ^l 

Houses, few tenements in Lynn in 1S30 -■ 

Houses generally owned by workmen 121, 122 

Hogs commonly kept S 

Howe, Elias, inventor of sewing machine 16 

Instep leather, how used , . . 

Ireson, Benjamin loq j j^, 

Ireson & Ingalls ]q^ 

Irish Literary Association 2C4 

Jackson, President, visits Lynn , , - 

Kertland, Phillip, one of the first shoemakers of Lynn u 

Kneeboards , , 

Kit improved 332,333 

Kit 6 

Kit, list of shoemaker's 3i.?^i 

Kit, high value set upon certain pieces of. 32 

Kit passed round the shop 1- 

Labor, division in factories 343- Hi 

Lamps, Japanned used in old times o 

Land, lo^v price of in 1830 121 

Lawrence ^ 

Lasts, improvements in 33^, 33. 

Lasts, block 53 , 

Lasts, Kimball lasts first used 33r 

Lewis, Alonzo 4^9-454 

Library Association 252, 2^^ 

Library, Free Public 1 1 

Literary Societies in Lynn 354-255 

" Locofoco," when first used gt, 

Log cabin and hard cider campaign 174-1S7 

Lowell, cotton, manufacture of 3, 3 

Luxuries fifty years ago r, 

McKay machine introduced into Lynn in 1S62 by William Pt)rter 19 

McKay machine introduced 342 

McKay machine first run by foot-power 345 

Marblchcad, commerce of > 



INDEX. 487 



I'AGE. 

Market street, description of in 1S30 ^09, 310 

.VIarl<et street, names of those doing business on in 1S31 313 

Market street, buildings on in 1S31 311, 313 

Mechanics' store 104-106 

Missions, foreign just established y 

Morocco business since 1S60 ^29-331 

Morocco business, amount done at present 331 

Morocco business, amount done in 1S60 328 

Morocco business of I^ynn in old times 320-32S 

Morocco dressing carried on secretly in old times 321 

Moulton, Joseph, his knowledge of the morocco business 320 

Moulton, John T 220 

Mudge, Benjamin i j 

Musical instruments, pianos, parlor organs and melodeons not in use in 

1S30 9 

Nahaiit incorporated — see clironological table 4S1 

Nantucket in 1S30 3 

New Bedford 2, 3 

New England rum 53, ^^ 

New England, seajiorts of ^ 

Newspaper, daily not seen as early as 1S30 y 

Newspapers, weekly often found in the shops 7 

Nullification in 1830 y 

Orders given as early as iSio 87 

Order stores of West Lynn 117, 118 

Order system S6-123 

Order system an improvement upon barter ; 89 

Orders used as currency 103 

Panic of 1S37 i4'>-'73 

Paper boxes unknown in old times ir 

Paper boxes first made by Abner Jones about 1840 15 

Paper shoe boxes ir_ 10 

Patterns, tin first used 17 

Patterns, upper, machine for cutting 20 21 

Perkins, Uncle 66-70 

Pig killing — a pig chase SiSS 

Population of Lynn in 1810 i . 

Population of Lynn, 1S30 — 1S80 2, 479 

Potatoes the chief garden crop in 1S30 y 

Prices, high, during the i)anic of 1837 164, 165 

Public Libraries 256-2150 

Public Libraries, Free ,1 

Railroads y 



488 



SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



PAGE. 

Railroads, negro cars on 2ii 212 

Religious societies in Lynn in 1S30 r 

Revolution in shoe business 16-22 

Rights and lefts Si-S; 

Rubber boot ,0 

Rum, Jamaica ,07, loS 

Rum, New England 'J'?-';" 

Salem ^ 

Salem, commerce of. , 

Salt phrases used in shops 3S-4S 

Saturday afternoon a half holiday 101 

Schools, first of Lynn 357-397 

School, one kept in different parts of the town 37S 

Schools, statistics of. - 3SS, 390, 391 

School houses, first 364-3S4 

School houses fifty years ago 10 

Schools ungraded fifty years ago 10,441 

Schools crowded fifty years ago 10,441 

School report first made to the town 3S7 

School report first printed 3q6 

" Scrod," what Daniel Webster said of it 51 

Scrapers, sharpening, a nice job 3c 

Shoulder-stick, cutting 3- 

Sermon discussed in shoemakers' shops 6 

Sewing machine first used in Lynn 1S52 16,340 

Shanks of very uncertain widths in old times 17, iS 

Shoe boxes made by Elijah Downing in 1825 15 

Shoe boxes did not come into general use till 1S30 to 1840 i^ 

Shoe business in 1S30 ■• 

Shoe business, early history of 12-15 

Shoeniuking carried on in old times in chiinnev corner i^ 

Slioemakers' shops in old times i^ 

Shoemaker's shop a school a 

Shoemakers, some of them " salt " .'.. 3S-45 

Shoemaking in 1S30 2 

Shoemakmg in olden time 23-70 

Shoemaker's shop — its history 14, 23-66 

Shoemaker's shop, berth in 24 

Shoemaker's shop, coal used in 26 

Shoemaker's shop, garret ot. 27. 24 

Shoemaker's shop, fire places in 2:; 

Shoemaker's shop, stoves in 25, 26 

Shoemaker's shop, building fire in 27 

Shoemaker's shop, singing in (, 



INDEX. 489 



TAGE. 

Shoemakers' shops put to other uses 5^1 

Shoemaker's shop, despotism sometimes seen in 65, 06 

Shoes, Iiovv packed 15, 16 

Shoes sent out of town to be bound 5 

Slioes talicn to market 15 

Slices, widc-tocd tlie style between 1S32 and 1S37 16S, 169 

Shop-tub, what made of j^ 

Shop-tub, shifting 34 

Silsbee Street Debating Club, report of debate in 225-239 

Silsbee Street Debating Club, political complexion of 199-209 

Silsbee Street Debating Club 194-233 

Silsbee Street Debating Club, names of members 195 

Silsbee Street Debating Club, questions discussed in 196 

Snuffers.. 39 

Social Union 336 

Social Union, members of 236 

Sole-leather, dealers in cut 345-356 

Sole-leather, statistics of cut 355 

Sole-cutter invented by Richard Richards, of Lynn, patented 1S44 19 

Sole-cutting 345-356 

Sole-cutting machines 353, 354 

Sole-leather wasted in old times iS, 19 

Speculation between the years 1S33 '^^^ 'S37 120 

Speculation in land. Eastern and Western 146-140 

Stage coach 15 

Stamp Act 13 

Statistics of the population and products of tlic West in 1S30-40 146-153 

Stirrup 62-64 

Stock, wetting 34 

Stock, neck, worn in old times 76 

Streets of Lynn fifty years ago 304-319 

Streets, number of in Lynn 319 

Streets, when opened 3i3-3'7 

Styles of boots worn — took the name from great men 73 

Swampscott incorporated — see chronological table 4S1 

Tallow candles used in i S30 9 

Taunton in 1S30 3 

Taylor, David, President of Whig Club 17S 

Telegraphic fire-alarm 2S9 

Telephone 11 

Thompson, William D 452-461 

Tinder-box, flint and steel used fifty years ago 27 

Town Hall, the old 123-145 

Town meeting, incidents of 125-14; 

62 



49^ SKETCHES OF LYNN. 



PAGE. 

Trees, fruit, not mucli cultivated in 1S30 S 

Trees, an association formed for setting out 295 

Trees destroyed by tornado of September 8, 1S69 296 

Union Store orders 91-9S 

Union Store, goods carried home from in " little cart " 93 

Village House jo6 

Wages between I S20 and 1S30 So 



Ward boundaries first established 



Wards newly defined 3S5, 3S6, 394, 



37' 

39S 



33 



Wax-making, art of 

Webster, Daniel, at Log Cabin 1S4 

West of 1S30 1,8 

Whigs, utter defeat of in 1S40 105 

W'ood, William, did much to improve the Common 293 

Woodend fifty years ago 106-1 15 

Woodend shoe manufacturers 111-113 

Wooldredge, John, first introduced sewing machines into LvnniSS2.... 16 

Young Men's Debating Society 239-243 

Young Men's Debating Society, debate in 243-252 

Young Men's Debating Society, raeinbers of. 339, 240 



NOTE. 

Tlie following errors escaped the attention of the jiroof reader, or wlien found 
in the copy, were not discovered until too late to make the needful correction in 
its proper place. 

On page 9, referring to the introduction of pianos, read scarcely in place of 
not. On page 13.5, giving dimensions of Town Hall, xc..\A fifty-eight in length 
in place of one hundred, wnA forty four in place of sixty. On page 239, insert 
the name of Nathaniel J. HoUieii among the founders of the Young Men's 
Debating Society. On page 303, eighth line from bottom, read three in place of 
two. On page 379, seventh line from bottom, read 1S25 in place of 1S36. In 
chronological table, page 4S0, under date 1830, read John Alley in place of John 
I?. .Alley. 



lHBFe'2g 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 077 774 2 s 



